25th Shanghai International Film Festival Opens

The 25th Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF) officially opened at the Shanghai Grand Theatre with the red carpet rolling out on Friday evening. Production crews of films such as "Burning Star," "The Coldest City," "Who is the Suspect," "Meg 2: The Trench," and "One More Chance" interacted with Shanghai audiences at the opening ceremony. Filmmakers and film stars such as Chen Kaige, Michelle Yeoh, Maggie Cheung, Jason Statham, Nicholas Tse, Yuan Yongyi, Chow Yun-fat, Zhu Yawen, and Zhu Yilong all appeared on the red carpet. The members of the International Jury for the Golden Goblet Awards also walked down the red carpet side by side.

Besides these dazzling appearances on the red carpet, many filmmakers have gathered in Shanghai to actively participate in various activities of the film festival.

Chinese veteran director Huang Jianxin will serve as the Chairman for the "SIFF YOUNG × Shanghai Youth Filmmaker Support Program" this year, and director Wuershan will serve as the Chairman of the Film Project Investment Unit's annual recommendation, contributing to cultivating new talent at the SIFF.

The 12 thematic forums this year will focus on the innovative development of the entire film industry chain, providing suggestions for building a strong film industry. Furthermore, SIFF has also launched its first "Sci-Fi Film Week," which combines the thematic screenings of 11 films and three major thematic forums to explore the development path of Chinese science fiction films.

The juries for the Main Competition, Asian New Talent, Documentary, Animation, and Short Film categories of the Golden Goblet Awards this year are led by Polish director Jerzy Skolimowski, Kyrgyz director Aktan Arym Kubat, Swiss director Christian Frei, Japanese animation producer Taro Maki, and producer Peggy Chiao from China's Taiwan. A total of 21 jury members from 12 countries and regions are participating.

For many film enthusiasts, SIFF is a festival where they can "meet" film masters in various ways. This year, the film festival will screen nearly 450 films from around the world, including the films selected for the Golden Goblet Awards.

There will be a total of 53 world premieres, 41 international premieres (films shown outside their country of origin for the first time), 80 Asian premieres, and 76 Chinese premieres in the 50 theaters of 41 cinema houses in Shanghai. The increasing proportion of premieres reflects the steady strengthening of the international influence and appeal of the festival.

As one of the integral sections of SIFF, this year's Belt and Road Film Week will take place from June 9 to 18, featuring events such as a press conference of the Belt and Road Film Festival Alliance, screening meet and greet sessions, a Belt and Road workshop, a Belt and Road film culture roundtable, and a closing ceremony.

The theme of this year's Belt and Road Film Week is "Dialogue," highlighting emotions and reflections on and off the screen, and the moments of resonance that arise from them. Twenty of the latest films at SIFF will accompany you on an adventure of film art across borders and through time and space. The eight finalists, selected by professional selectors, will compete for the "Media Choice Award for Filmmakers," "Media Choice Award to Films," and "Audience Choice Award."

Chinese movie celebrities on the red carpet event at the opening ceremony of the 2023 Shanghai International Film Festival in Shanghai, June 9, 2023.