Shanghai International Film Festival Opens with Record Global Participation
The 28th Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF) officially opened on June 12 in Shanghai, marking a milestone as the first major national-level cultural event in the city during China’s “15th Five-Year Plan” period. Running through June 21 with extended screenings until June 28, the festival has drawn a record 4,100 film submissions from 125 countries and regions, underscoring its growing international stature, according to Xinhua News.
A Festival of Firsts
This year’s edition is particularly notable for its unprecedented global reach. The Golden Goblet Awards competition features 49 films across five categories, with 41 world premieres — an extraordinary 83.67% of all competition entries. For the first time, both the main competition and documentary units are composed entirely of world premieres. First-time submissions arrived from Ghana and Mozambique, while films from the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan feature prominently, reflecting the festival’s expanding engagement with the Global South.
Shanghai’s official government portal reported that the festival was re-certified in March 2026 as China’s only international “A-category film festival” by the International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF), a designation that reinforces its prestige among global cinema events.
Star Power and Jury Leadership
Hong Kong screen legend Tony Leung Chiu-wai presides as president of the main competition jury. “I still have some tickets. Would you like to come with me?” Leung said in a poetic invitation that organizers have interpreted as both a call to fellow filmmakers and Shanghai’s welcome to global film enthusiasts, as reported by the Shanghai Government. The jury comprises 21 members from 16 countries and regions, including Tunisia’s first-ever juror, producer Dora Bouchoucha.
Academy Award-winning actress Meryl Streep, who recently revisited Shanghai, described the city as a “shining magic city,” noting that “the landscape has become more magnificent, and the people here are full of vitality, especially their passion for film.”
Innovation Meets Tradition
A major highlight of this year’s festival is the introduction of the “AI Film Set” unit, featuring four teams creating AI-assisted short films. The festival has also launched a “Mobile Film Creation Camp” for young creators and an “Immersive Expansion” VR space in collaboration with Jing’an District. The Shanghai Science & Technology Museum will screen 14 science films on its giant screen, from tropical rainforests to prehistoric dinosaurs.
“Shanghai is leveraging the SIFF platform to build a global film production and creation center, continuously promoting Chinese cinema to resonate with the times and deeply integrate with the world,” said Zhao Jiaming, member of the Standing Committee of the Shanghai Municipal Committee and head of the Propaganda Department.
Cultural Diplomacy and the Belt and Road
The “Belt and Road” Film Festival Alliance now includes 57 members from 50 countries, with new cooperation established with Jordan’s Royal Film Commission. This year’s “Belt and Road” Film Week, themed “Ten Thousand Miles, One Screen,” features 16 films from 26 countries. Country-specific showcases include Egypt Film Week and programs highlighting Brazilian and Italian cinema.
However, the festival is not without geopolitical undercurrents. The Nikkei Asia reported that no Japanese films or Japanese jurors are participating this year, citing deteriorating Sino-Japanese relations as the likely cause. The traditional “Japan Film Week” showcase has been canceled, marking a notable absence in what the festival describes as a celebration of global cinema.
Economic and Cultural Impact
Last year’s festival generated nearly 5 billion RMB in comprehensive economic benefits, with nearly 30% of audiences traveling specifically for the event. This year, 250,000 tickets sold within 15 minutes on opening day, with buyers ranging from as far as Urumqi — 4,000 kilometers away — to Hulunbuir in the north and Sanya in the south.
Chen Guo, director of the Shanghai International Film and Television Festival Center, said: “SIFF is continuously expanding new ways for people and film, people and the city to meet. This film city welcomes global film fans, integrating every frame of light and shadow into vibrant life.”
Looking Ahead
As the festival continues through June 21, with extended screenings until June 28, all eyes are on the Golden Goblet Awards ceremony scheduled for June 13 at the Shanghai Grand Theater. With its record participation, technological innovations, and expanding international partnerships, the 28th SIFF is positioning itself not merely as a film competition but as a flagship platform for China’s cultural soft power ambitions in the years ahead.