London, 21 October 2015: His Royal Highness The Duke of Cambridge, President of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA), presented a BAFTA gift to Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China, at Lancaster House, London, today.

The gift – an original artwork from the BAFTA archive revealing the heart of BAFTA’s historic headquarters in London – symbolises the spirit of open, creative collaboration that BAFTA promotes between the UK and China and commemorates 2015 as the UK-China Year of Cultural Exchange.

Today’s event is part of President Xi Jinping’s State Visit to the UK from 20-23 October.  It showcased the best of UK creativity and highlighted recent and new collaborations with China across a range of British companies and institutions.

Amanda Berry OBE, Chief Executive of BAFTA, guided President Xi Jinping and HRH The Duke of Cambridge through the showcase at which BAFTA screened a short film highlighting its ongoing work in China and staged a performance by BAFTA scholarship recipient Wan Pin Chu, a composer from Hong Kong, who performed British and Chinese music on the erhu, a traditional Chinese instrument.

BAFTA announced today a number of other events taking place in November with leading British talent: BAFTA-nominated hair and make up designer Naomi Donne (Chocolat, Skyfall, Spectre) will discuss her craft at masterclasses with M.A.C Cosmetics in Hong Kong and Beijing, BAFTA’s first event in China’s capital city; BAFTA-nominated actor Hugh Bonneville (Downton Abbey, Paddington) will attend a fundraising dinner in Hong Kong in support of BAFTA’s charitable activities across Asia before visiting secondary school students studying English drama and finally discussing his work with students, leading industry figures and the public at a special ‘In Conversation’ event.

Amanda Berry OBE, Chief Executive of BAFTA, said: “I was delighted with our involvement in today’s event and to be part of President Xi Jinping’s State Visit to the UK. The event showcased the range of creative excellence in the UK while recognising China’s significant contribution to the arts.

“BAFTA encourages creative and cultural exchange, and we’ve already begun this work by investing in new talent and laying foundations for future collaboration through initiatives and events in mainland China and Hong Kong.

“HRH The Duke of Cambridge’s gift presentation to President Xi Jinping, made on our behalf, is a symbol of our commitment to strengthening ties between our countries as we announce our first-ever event in Beijing and prepare to open applications for an expansion of our scholarship programme across mainland China, which began in Hong Kong.”

The Duke of Cambridge is a supporter BAFTA’s work in China, helping the organisation forge stronger links with creative talent in the country. In March this year, The Duke donated a replica BAFTA award on the Academy’s behalf to the Shanghai Film Museum during the GREAT Festival of Creativity in Shanghai, and helped launch BAFTA’s latest scholarship scheme for students studying in mainland China and Hong Kong, which opens for applications in 2016.

BAFTA has been working with partners in China to deliver masterclasses and workshops since 2013, featuring award-winning filmmakers, actors and craftspeople including Johnnie To, Zhang Yimou, Duncan Kenworthy, Eddie Redmayne and Lois Burwell.

Today’s event marked the first of three events in a week featuring BAFTA involvement that The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will attend: this Friday, Their Royal Highnesses will meet BAFTA Young Game Designers award winners during a visit to Dundee in Scotland, and next Monday they will join the young beneficiaries of the charities they support at a creative industries-themed Charities Forum event with Prince Harry, at BAFTA 195 Piccadilly, London.


Notes to editors

President Xi Jinping’s BAFTA gift

Piccadilly to Jermyn St. 2012-2013

Inscriptions:

Front

“In commemoration of the UK-China Year of Cultural Exchange. This specially commissioned limited edition artwork reveals the heart of BAFTA’s historic headquarters in London and symbolises the spirit of open, creative collaboration BAFTA promotes between our nations in film, television and games.”
“HRH The Duke of Cambridge President of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts October 2015” [SIGNED BY THE DUKE]

Rear

“One of a pair of original artworks created by British artist Kevin Vucic-Shepherd entitled Piccadilly to Jermyn St. 2012-2013, depicting the headquarters of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) at 195 Piccadilly where the other remains on display. Presented in commemoration of the UK-China Year of Cultural Exchange.” [SIGNED BY ARTIST]

Music played by Wan Pin Chu, BAFTA scholarship recipient

Galloping Horses (traditional Chinese melody, arr. Wan Pin Chu)

Balcony scene from Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet (Craig Armstrong, arr. Wan Pin Chu)

Upcoming BAFTA activity in Asia (further events tba)

– 9 & 12 November: BAFTA and M.A.C Cosmetics present make-up design masterclasses with Naomi Donne, Hong Kong & Beijing
– 25 & 26 November: Fundraising dinner, school visits and ‘In Conversation’ event with Hugh Bonneville, Hong Kong


For further information, please contact:
Nick Williams at BAFTA (UK)
T 020 7292 5847
E [email protected]

Tim Fung at FleishmanHillard (Hong Kong)
T +852 2586 7892
E [email protected]

Lei Hu at FleishmanHillard (Hong Kong)
T +852 2586 7893
E [email protected]

 

For images, logos and more, visit www.bafta.org/press