The Beijing International Film Festival (BIFF) says its intention is to promote cultural ties between Chinese and foreign film industries. Two forums were held Sunday in Beijing with this in mind, one entitled "Dialogue between Chinese and International Film Directors" featuring directors including Feng Xiaogang (Aftershock), Darren Aronofsky (Black Swan) and John Woo (Red Cliff), and the other "Dialogue between Directors of International Film Festivals."

Sunday morning's "Dialogue," hosted by Han Sanping, chairman of China Film Group, saw seven directors express their views about how to balance commercial and artistic aesthetics and new technology such as 3-D and special effects in filmmaking.

From left: Directors Peter Chan, Darren Aronofsky and Feng Xiaogang discuss cinema. [CFP]

American director Darren Aronofsky said that having one's own story is essential; Black Swan itself is "a very personal film" but it also achieved commercial success thanks to the "commercial awareness" of the production team.

Hong Kong director Peter Chan (Comrades, Almost A Love Story, The Warlords) used a metaphor for this.

Commercial awareness is like a father: He has to make a living for the family. Artistic aesthetics is like a naughty son: He has crazy and wonderful ideas. Father and son need to reach an agreement to make a win-win."

Feng Xiaogang agreed. "The commercial side needs to be cared about more when the market is not active, while the artistic side needs to be encouraged when the market is fully active," he said. "Actually, I think even the most commercial director also has his or her personal expression."

"Firstly, film works have its artistic aesthetic in its raw stage," Han Sanping further explained. "Then it has to go into industrialization, to be made in the film industry. Then it has to go to the post-production stage. Lastly, it goes to the commercial market as a product for the mass audience to purchase."