Director Junho Hong’s “Only the Moon Knows” won the Annual Focus Award at the SIFF Project, the project promotion division of the Shanghai International Film Festival. It also won the Regent Presents Cinematic Escapes Special Focus Award worth 200,000 IHG One Rewards points.
After the ceremony, Hong said, “I was very excited, but at the same time, I had mixed feelings.” “This is just the beginning, and there is still a long way to go. I want to do everything in my power to make the film a reality.”
SIFF projects have selected a total of 31 projects, grouped into five sections and labeled as new talent, genre, international co-productions, pre-production, and works in progress.
The jury, led by Joan Chen, was joined by Sam Cua and Ma Yili to present the award. “It is more than a twinkle in the midnight sun. It is the purest kindness between strangers. Even in the deepest solitude, every soul deserves to be seen, and every spark can illuminate the dignity of life,” said Marr.
Besides Hong, there were four other double winners. Kaia Gao’s debut in-development project “A Room of Her Own” won a FunAge cash award worth RMB 150,000 ($22,199) and SIFF’s Best Talent Project. “Mum” won the Most Creative Project and Regent’s Special Focus Awards. There Will Be Snow, directed by Chen Jianying, won Best WIP Project and Inbetween Award. Jigme Trinley’s second feature film, Murder Television, won Best Genre Project and Regent’s Special Focus Award.
“Many filmmakers have told me that they actually came up with the story concept when they were at their lowest point. I was very touched to hear that, because we filmmakers shouldn’t expect you to rush through your pain and struggle. We should survive and embrace it because it’s our treasure. You will succeed,” Director Chen said.
The four-day event featured project presentations and screenings of WIP clips, as well as one-on-one project meetings to connect filmmakers with studios, post-production companies, and distributors.
SIFF Project Market 2026 Winners
annual focus
Director of “Only the Moon Knows.” Juno Hong
A Chinese girl studying abroad works the night shift at a local convenience store, where she meets an elderly homeless woman.
best genre project
Director of “Murder TV”. Jigme Trinley, professional. Wang Lei
In the wake of the absurd act of “TV murder”, Ahao begins to search for the meaning of “existence” amidst the flow of socialization.
best talent project
Director of “A Room Only for Her.” Kaia Gao, professional. Wangjing
Wen Yue, 29, was offered an apartment on the condition that he provide a room to house his grandmother’s ashes.
most creative project
“Mother”, director. Zhou Yoshizhi, professional. Zhu Jiayi
A dead mother is reincarnated in a strange way and once again takes full control of her son’s life.
Best WIP Project
Director of “There Will Be Snow.” Chen Jianyin, professional. Li Xiaoyuan
A dance teacher searches for memory, love, and her true emotional self in a near-future frozen city.
Honorable mention
“Don’t move, mom” Wu Boping, professional. Zhao Dengfei
In order to create the perfect goose marinade for her late mother, a young girl embarks on a fantastical journey with her mysterious companions.
FunAge “Happy Together” Award – CNY 150,000 ($22,199)
Director of “A Room Only for Her.” Kaia Gao, professional. Wangjing
Wen Yue, 29, was offered an apartment on the condition that he provide a room to house his grandmother’s ashes.
Damai Entertainment Hina Award – Cash 150,000 RMB ($22,199)
“This Timeworn Land”, director. You Xing, I’m a professional. Zhen Yue, Qiao Yangmai, Fu Mengchu
A blind woman returns to the apartment she once ran away from. It’s a haunted borderland where memory, death, and her past unfold.
Phenom Films Award – 2 in-kind awards worth RMB 200,000 ($29,598)
Director of “Ragtag.” Huang Yucong, professional. Moting Shen
A new director, a Triad boss who wants to die on screen, a rogue Romance of the Three Kingdoms, and characters from a runaway script collide in a chaotic shoot that no one can stop.
Director of “Winter in a Small Town”. Wu Chu & Gao Xiangyu, professionals. Chen Yi Ni
In a small, remote border town, university professor Li Wenxiu’s peaceful life is unexpectedly disrupted when a female student goes missing.
Mofei Pictures Creative Sound’s Choice – In-kind prize worth RMB 200,000 ($29,598)
Director of “Grow Up”. Gao Tong, professional. Zhu Yuheng
Zhou Xiaohuan and the three boys steal a car and head north with the monkey in search of the Northern Lights, but it turns out to be an inevitable parting.
Aputure Award – In-kind prize worth RMB 300,000 ($44,398)
“Vestiges”, directed. Kio Chiu, professional. Lexi Chao & Haina Chou
LV An, brought out of seclusion to serve a kingdom in turmoil, travels to Luoyang with his wife XU and faces destruction. Centuries later, their traces reappear.
Inbetween Award – 3 in-kind prizes worth RMB 100,000 ($14,799)
“Outside My Room”, director. Yang Shiyu, professional. Peng Jing, Li Yifan, Xu Xiao
Yuan, exhausted by the streets of Beijing, heads back to his hometown with his mother and grandmother as three generations face the future.
Director of “A Thousand Stars on a Galactic Night.” Xu Hui, Executive Professional. Hongwei Wang, professional. Lu Hang
After her boyfriend disappears, Ayue, a day laborer, has to face the hidden secrets of her life…
Director of “There Will Be Snow.” Chen Jianyin, professional. Li Xiaoyuan
A dance teacher searches for memory, love, and her true emotional self in a near-future frozen city.
China Film Awards – In-kind prize worth RMB 300,000 ($44,398)
Director of “Shortcut to Life”. Wang Yucheng, professional. Sun Yu Qi
From the vanities of the city to the wilds of the border, the weak’s shortcut through success fraud turns into a deadly abyss.
Regent Wins “Cinematic Escape” Special Focus Award – 3 Awards of 200,000 IHG One Rewards Points
Director of “Only the Moon Knows.” Juno Hong
Director of “Murder TV”. Jigme Trinley, professional. Wang Lei
“Mother”, director. Zhou Yoshizhi, professional. Zhu Jiayi
