The 5th Hainan Island International Film Festival opens

The 5th Hainan Island International Film Festival (HIIFF) is scheduled to open in Sanya, south China's tropical island province of Hainan on Saturday.

Through vibrant activities – including an opening ceremony, the Golden Coconut Awards competition, film screenings, forums, master classes and the Coconut Carnival – the film festival aims to build a platform for global filmmakers to communicate and collaborate.

Renowned Turkish filmmaker Nuri Bilge Ceylan, a multiple award winner at the Cannes International Film Festival, including the Best Director Award and the Golden Palm Award, will lead this year's Golden Coconut Awards competition jury.

Notable members of the jury also include French photographer Caroline Champetier, Iranian director Shahram Mokri, as well as Chinese director and actor Da Peng, Chinese actor and producer Huang Xiaoming, Chinese actress Ma Yili, and Chinese screenwriter Liu Yi.

The Golden Coconut Awards categories include: Best Film, Best Director, Special Jury Award, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Screenwriter, Best Artistic Contribution, Best Children's Film, Best Documentary, and Best Short Film.

According to the film festival's official website, the festival has also specially curated themed screening sections that will showcase outstanding films from around the world, including well-received works from previous international film festivals and classic films from both Chinese and foreign directors. Audiences will have the opportunity to enjoy nearly a hundred remarkable films, experiencing the blending of different cultures and styles.

Breaking new ground, the main forum venue has introduced a virtual reality (VR) film experience area, incorporating VR concepts for the first time at the Hainan Island International Film Festival.

The HIIFF will run until December 22, 2023.