Global cinema shines at 26th Shanghai International Film Festival

The 26th Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF) lifted its curtain as scheduled on Friday, bringing a ten-day cinematic extravaganza to film enthusiasts.

This year, SIFF showcases 461 films from 64 countries and regions, featuring 70 world premieres (the first public screening), 48 international premieres (the first public screening outside the country of production), 81 Asian premieres, and 73 Chinese premieres, according to SIFF's official release.

This year's festival coincides with the 60th anniversary of China-France diplomatic ties and the China-France Year of Culture and Tourism, adding unique French elements to the event.

Golden Goblet Jury President Tran Anh Hung from France will host a masterclass, and a thematic film exhibition paying tribute to French literary master Marguerite Duras has become a hot ticket for film enthusiasts. The specially curated French Film Week features outstanding recent works from major international film festivals, showcasing the diverse perspectives and societal aspects of contemporary French cinema.

What's more, the popular "Cannes Express" section returns this year, bringing 15 fresh films directly from the Cannes Film Festival to Shanghai. French film and television institutions and distributors will participate in buyer salons, promoting French film and television policies and fostering industry exchanges and transactions between Shanghai and friendly countries overseas.

In addition to the competition films, various sections such as "4K Restoration," "Tribute to Masters," "New from Auteur," "Global Village," and "Refreshing Chinese Cinema" showcase the latest masterpieces from the global film industry to Chinese audiences.

According to SIFF's official ticketing platform Taopiaopiao, as of the evening of June 12, this year's festival will feature 461 films with a total of 1,624 screenings. The festival has already sold 450,000 tickets, surpassing last year's total audience numbers. Approximately 70% of ticket buyers are local Shanghai residents, with the remaining 30% from Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Beijing, Guangdong, and other regions.

The festival runs from June 14 to 23.