Beijing welcomes the world for a springtime celebration of cinema

The 15th Beijing International Film Festival (BJIFF) is set to open on the evening of April 18 at the Yanqi Lake International Convention & Exhibition Center in Beijing. Film professionals from around the world will gather to launch a springtime celebration of global cinema.

This year marks a significant milestone – 2025 is the 130th anniversary of world cinema and the 120th anniversary of Chinese cinema. Against this historic backdrop, the BJIFF continues to highlight international exchange and cinematic excellence.

At the heart of the festival is the Tiantan Award, the official competition section of BJIFF. Designed to honor recent outstanding films and champion diversity in global cinema, the award features 15 shortlisted full-length films competing in 10 categories, including Best Feature Film, Best Director, Best Leading Actor, Best Leading Actress, and Best Cinematography. Winners will be selected by a prestigious seven-member jury and announced at the festival's closing ceremony.

This year's Tiantan Award International Jury Committee is led by acclaimed Chinese director and actor Jiang Wen. He is joined by Chinese American director and actress Joan Chen, British director David Yates, Chinese actress Ni Ni, Finnish director Teemu Nikki, Swiss director-actor Vincent Perez and Hong Kong art director Tim Yip.

Running from April 18 to 26, the 15th BJIFF will present over 300 films across 33 cinemas and one immersive venue in Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei. The "Beijing Screening" section will offer approximately 900 screenings, showcasing global masterpieces, restored classics and the works of emerging Chinese filmmakers.