A Carnival for Moviegoers

As the only international category A film festival in China, Shanghai International Film Festival brings China’s films to the international frontier, integrating Chinese and foreign cultures and allowing them to learn from each other. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the festival. As moviegoers enter movie theaters to enjoy the films and the event, world cinema continues to enrich their memories, feelings and experiences.

A moviegoer flew over early in the morning

To enjoy watching movies as "delayed gratification"

"Walking into the cinema hall, you can see on the right side of the escalator, there are 23 themed road flags placed step by step. On the road flags are the winners of the Golden Goblet Awards for the Best Film and the president of the jury at each edition of the festival (the 23rd one has no awards). These key words instantly awakened my memory of the festival," said Wang Yu (pseudonym) emotionally, walking into the Grand Theatre again after two years.

Wang Yu, born in the 2000s, is already a "regular visitor" to the Shanghai International Film Festival. Every year, she rushes from other places to Shanghai’s Grand Theatre to watch movies in an immersive experience. "This time I flew over from my hometown in Liaoning at 6 o'clock in the morning, and grabbed tickets to three movies as soon as I arrived," said Wang Yu with a smile.

Why make a special trip to the Shanghai International Film Festival? For Wang Yu, watching a classic movie quietly in the cinema is not only relaxing, but also an emotional outlet. "After watching CLOSE, I couldn't help crying. I just love this kind of quality movies." Packing up her suitcase and rushing to her appointment with the festival has become an expectation and passion of Wang Yu every year. While enjoying the movies, she also feels the warmth and power brought by them.

Liu Xinyu, a senior student in college, came to the festival for the third time. In addition to enjoying the atmosphere of watching movies in the cinema, what impressed him the most is that the audience would applaud spontaneously after each movie, "This shows respect for the director and actors, and it is also an expression of awe and love for the film."

JINPA, FIRE OF LOVE... Shao, also a student, was busy "catching up" in different movie theaters, and she enjoyed such a movie feast very much. She has lived in Shanghai since she was a child, and for her, watching movies has broadened her horizons, and also enabled her to enjoy life even more.

A moviegoer of the same age as Shanghai International Film Festival

Enchanted by movies

Mr. Sun is an employee of a film production company and has been working in the film industry for more than ten years. He is not only a professional filmmaker, but also a big fan of movies. He is well aware that making movies will inevitably encounter many challenges and uncertainties, but this kind of test has also made him more determined in his true love for the industry and filmmaking.

"Audiences are more and more sophisticated in their taste for movies, and their requirements for movies are getting higher and higher, which is also 'forcing' us to continue to improve," said Mr. Sun. On the day he was interviewed, Mr. Sun and his friends bought tickets, checked them in, and watched the movie CASTLE IN THE SKY. At that moment, he enjoyed watching the movie and was enchanted by it as a fan.

Ms. Wang, a freelancer, is exactly 30 years old this year, of the same age as the festival. "What a coincidence!" exclaimed Ms. Wang, who has been following the festival and watching movies in theaters since the year she became a graduate student. Scrambling for tickets every June has since become a routine she never tires of.

Ms. Wang said frankly that she is a nostalgic, and would keep the ticket stub after watching a movie each time as a souvenir. "Occasionally, when I see those stubs, the memories about the movies pop up all at once, which is very interesting," Ms. Wang said, her eyes shone with happiness.

A pile of movie tickets,

A symbol for the love of film

Among the moviegoers, there are also the elderly. At Shanghai’s Grand Theatre, two elderly ladies walked together, and they were waiting for the opening of the 4K restoration of the film BRIDGET JONES'S DIARY. "My daughter bought the tickets for us, so we just need to come here to pick them up directly and watch the movie," said one of them, both brimming with pride.

Grandpa Wu, 75, has been a movie lover since he was young. Movies have accompanied him through youth and middle age, and became part of his life after retirement. "I also hope to connect with the world through watching movies." Grandpa Wu is well aware that the reason why the Glorious Days of SIFF exhibition opted for the Grand Theatre on West Nanjing Road is naturally that this landmark designed by Ladislav Hudec (Wu Dake), with a history of nearly a hundred years, is also a significant legacy of Shanghai.

Seeing that the festival is becoming more and more international and attracting wide attention, Grandpa Wu is full of pride. "Although it is difficult for me to buy tickets online, I will continue watching movies." For Grandpa Wu, watching a movie quietly in the cinema is both enjoyment and part of life itself.

Grandpa Pan, who loves to watch movies, has a habit of marking the ticket to a movie with a tick if he feels satisfied after watching it and with a cross if otherwise. Year after year, his movie tickets piled up to a thick wad. "I still look through it from time to time, looking at the ticks and crosses on the movie tickets," said Grandpa Pan, since each of these movie tickets is a symbol of his love for movies.

Authors: Ming Yujun, Dong Xin