As the 28th Shanghai International Film Festival kicks off, the spotlight is on Hong Kong screen icon Tony Leung Chiu-wai, who presides over the Golden Cup Awards as jury president. Leon’s presence, along with 12 world premiere films in the main competition, underlines SIFF’s reputation as mainland China’s only FIAPF-accredited A-list festival.
“We have long admired both Tony Leung Chiu-wai’s artistic achievements and international influence,” said Chen Guo, managing director of Shanghai International Film and Television Event Center.
Leon was awarded the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the Venice Film Festival in 2023. He joins the festival, which will feature more than 420 films selected from around 4,100 submissions from 125 countries in its 2026 edition. Chen said the decision to show was driven by two factors.
“For all categories, our selection process is based on two fundamental considerations: the values reflected in each work and its premiere status,” Chen said. “We also take into account the diversity of filmmakers in terms of gender and generation, as well as factors such as geographic representation, to reflect the diversity and inclusivity that defines the awards.”
The result is a major competition mix that ranges from Chinese surrealist biopics to Moroccan ecodramas to German absurdist comedies.
The festival has also taken advantage of several anniversaries, including a sidebar commemorating British author Ken Loach’s 90th birthday, and a joint retrospective commemorating Billy Wilder’s 120th birthday alongside Marilyn Monroe’s 100th birthday.
“Given that both anniversaries are in the same year and Wilder and Monroe’s great creative partnership (…) we felt it was an ideal opportunity to curate a joint retrospective,” Chen says.
Tributes to Chinese filmmakers include programs honoring Sun Fu on the 110th anniversary of his birth, Huang Zuolin on the 120th anniversary of his birth, and Shen Yaoting, who passed away last year.
SIFF also runs a sidebar dedicated to diplomacy. Egyptian Film Week commemorates the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Egypt, and the festival continues to expand the Belt and Road Film Festival Alliance. “It is our long-standing practice to organize thematic programs at major diplomatic and cultural milestones,” Chen said, adding that the initiative “builds communication channels for both filmmakers and institutions, turning cultural showcases into in-depth and long-term industrial cooperation.”
In terms of talent development, SIFF’s three-pillar system centered around SIFF PROJECT, SIFF ING and SIFF YOUNG is designed to guide filmmakers from project launch to international exposure. The 5th edition of SIFF YOUNG has evolved into a prominent incubator for commercial Chinese films. Hit filmmaker Wen Muie, a 2023 program graduate, will return this year as chair of the final nomination committee.
The festival has also carved out key parts of the event for film technology, including Imax, Dolby Vision, and remastered 4K classics. “The premium theatrical format provides a unique sense of realism and immersion that cannot be easily replicated elsewhere,” says Chen. “Specialized sections dedicated to Imax, Dolby Vision, and 4K restorations serve two complementary purposes: (they) allow contemporary films to be experienced to their fullest audiovisual potential, and restoration techniques preserve classic works so they can be rediscovered by a new generation of audiences.”
Mr. Chen was careful to tone down his technology sales pitch. “We don’t believe technology is the only thing that will bring audiences back to theaters,” she says. “Ultimately, compelling storytelling remains the foundation of film. Technology can enhance the experience, but it’s great stories that truly connect with audiences.”
The tension between art and science is beautifully captured in the festival’s selection of bookend films, all made in China. The opening film, “After Peace,” directed by Hong Kong director Keen TK Wong, is a moody meditation on art and performance that centers on a failed director who attempts to regain his dignity by writing and starring in a new film. The closing film, “The Decisive Moment,” is a sci-fi thriller about a Chinese astronaut who faces a dangerous emergency during a space mission, a genre that would fit the standards of modern Hollywood studios.
SIFF will run until June 21st.
