SIFF opens with start-studded red carpet and a thriller

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‍The 21st Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF) opened Saturday with a star-studded red carpet and the much-anticipated thriller "Animal World" by Chinese filmmaker Han Yan.

During the 10-day visual feast, around 500 movies from home and abroad will be screened at 45 local cinemas including the Shanghai Film Art Center, Grand Cinema and Cathay Theater.

Click here to watch the replay of the opening ceremony of the 21st SIFF

Jury members of the main competition unit, from left to right, US film producer David Permut, Hungarian director and screenwriter Ildiko Enyedi, Chinese filmmaker and actor Jiang Wen, Chinese actor Chang Chen, Turkish director and screenwriter Semih Kaplanoglu and Chinese actress Qin Hailu. /VCG Photo

This year's jury for the main competition unit was headed by domestic filmmaker and actor Jiang Wen. He is joined by Chinese actor Chang Chen, Chinese actress Qin Hailu, Hungarian director and screenwriter Ildiko Enyedi, Turkish director and screenwriter Semih Kaplanoglu, Japanese actress Naomi Kawase, and US film producer David Permut.

Thirteen films are up for competition for the top prize: The Golden Goblet Award for Feature Film, while five films are up for the documentary award and another five in contention for animation.

SIFF is 'a bridge for cultural emissaries'

The SIFF is jointly held by the State Film Administration, the China Media Group (CMG) and the Shanghai Municipal People's Government.

"The movie is a cultural ambassador. The festival is a bridge for cultural emissaries to the world. Filmmakers from home and abroad have no fear of high mountains and rivers, gather in the cultural metropolis of Shanghai, cast a feast of all people with light and shadow, help the construction of Shanghai cultural brand," Shen Haixiong, President of the CMG, said in his welcoming speech at the opening ceremony.

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"As China's only non-specialized, competitive international film festival, the Shanghai International Film Festival bears the responsibility of promoting the extensive exchange of films and promoting their diverse development.

"Since it was established in 1993, it has always provided a platform for global filmmakers, newcomers, and audiences to experience Chinese and foreign film culture. It's now developed into an activity with wide international influence and reputation."

For the first time, the festival includes the Belt and Road Film Week, which will feature 154 films from the Belt and Road countries.

"This year's film festival will upgrade the mechanism of film festival cooperation along the Belt and Road, promote cultural exchanges, expand the circle of friends, and build the consensus of a community with a common destiny. It will also continue to devote itself to serving all friends participating in the festival, with more activities, convenience, and a comfortable environment to enhance the experience," Shen said.

Ticket frenzy

A moviegoer gives a thumbs-up after buying the tickets for the 21st Shanghai International Film Festival on June 9. /VCG Photo

This year's festival also witnessed a record sale of tickets with a total of 52,894 tickets sold within the first minute of going on sale online at 8:00 a.m. on June 9, according to local news portal SHINE.

Tickets for many screenings were sold out online within an hour.

By 6:00 p.m. on the same day, the festival had sold a total of 387,077 tickets, SHINE reported.

The SIFF runs until June 25.