The 27th Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF) sets the stage for a cinematic celebration. With over 2,800 film submissions from 119 countries, this year’s Golden Goblet Awards reach a new high — particularly with a surge in entries from Africa and the Americas. Short film submissions alone have risen by 18% compared to last year.
Twelve films headline the main competition, showcasing global storytelling at its finest. Highlights include After the Fog (Chile-U.K.-France), Black Red Yellow (Kyrgyzstan), Cyclone (Brazil), and notable Chinese entries like My Father’s Son, One Wacky Summer, and Wild Nights, Tamed Beasts. The list features films from Japan, Germany, Poland, Argentina, and Portugal.
The Asian New Talent section presents 12 fresh voices from across the region — including titles from China, Japan, India, Turkey, Iran, Sri Lanka, and an Italy-Philippines co-production.
On the nonfiction side, the documentary category includes five titles from Iran, Mexico, China, Spain, and Laos — each offering powerful, real-world narratives.
Animation also takes centre stage with entries like Edge of Time (a multi-country collaboration), Magic Beach (Australia), and Tom and Jerry: Forbidden Compass (China-U.S.). The short film competitions are brimming with global creativity, with China well-represented alongside works from France, Iran, Spain, and Mexico. Animated shorts include cross-cultural gems like I Am Not Here Anymore (Poland-France) and Triassic Cuddle (Romania).
Oscar-winning Italian director Giuseppe Tornatore (Cinema Paradiso) heads this year’s jury. “A festival is a cultural dialogue,” he states. “SIFF is where the world meets through film.”
New this year: SIFF has merged its market with the Shanghai TV Festival to form the International Film and TV Market while launching the new Asia Now section to spotlight regional cinema.
The festival runs from June 13th to 22nd, followed by the Shanghai TV Festival from June 23rd to 27th, making Shanghai the centre of the global screen world this summer.
