You've got to be joking

Leong Wai-man, director of the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao SAR government, notes that such cross-border collaborations contribute to deeper exchanges within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. She emphasizes the festival's role in showcasing China's optimism, confidence, openness and inclusivity through the universally beloved art form of comedy.

The event also features forums and salons where veteran comedians and entertainment industry professionals discussed issues related to comedy development. Renowned director Zhang Yimou, along with director Ning Hao and comedians Shen Teng and Ma Li, shared insights into the sophistication of comedy. Zhang says comedies not only elicit laughter but also prompt reflection on human nature and social phenomena.

Regarding the criteria for evaluating comedy, Ning highlights the importance of humor conveying various emotions or values beyond just laughter, stressing the potential of comedy to reach profound truths without relying solely on sentimentality.

Zhang Zheng, associate professor from the School of Journalism and Communication of Tsinghua University, affirms the hosting of this comedy festival from the perspective of industry development.

"Laughter has a broad market foundation, and comedy, as an important vertical category in the cultural industry, has vast growth potential," Zhang Zheng says.

He believes that taking comedy as a key entry point and focus of the cultural industries in Hengqin and Macao will surely lead to rapid and positive development, allowing the enduring transmission of the power of laughter and culture.