Sci-fi Film Week to Focus on Artificial Intelligence + Cinema at the 26th SIFF

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and innovation, to lead toward a future of boundless imagination. The Sci-fi Film Week will still be presented for the 26th Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF) in 2024, with its focus on Artificial Intelligence (AI) + Cinema. It is designed to explore the bidirectional empowerment of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Sci-fi films, thereby igniting the in-depth thinking and vision for the future among filmmakers.

This year’s Sci-fi Film Week will hold activities such as themed screenings of sci-fi films, the Opening Ceremony of Sci-fi Film Week and the Press Conference of the Shanghai High-tech Films and Televisions City, SIFFORUM: Sci-fi Film Theme Forum, Sci-fi Literature IP Promotion, and Future Engine: Night of Movie Heroes. The event will gather domestic and foreign science fiction filmmakers, science fiction writers, scientists and other dream makers to present a film feast belonging to the future.

The AI-themed Sci-fi Film Week lineup includes 10 overseas masterpieces, including the groundbreaking hallmark silent sci-fi masterpiece METROPOLIS, the pinnacle of cyberpunk animation, GHOST IN THE SHELL 4K Remaster and GHOST IN THE SHELL 2: INNOCENCE, and the great space travel masterpiece of film history, 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY, and an experimental new work, COSMIC MINIATURES, from the 91-year-old legendary filmmaker, who uses AI to broaden the boundaries of cinema. With both classic retrospectives and world premieres, this visual feast in the name of sci-fi is not to be missed.

METROPOLIS (1927)

GHOST IN THE SHELL 4K Remaster (1995)

2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY (1968)

GHOST IN THE SHELL 2: INNOCENCE (2004)

HER (2013)

EX MACHINA (2014)

I'M YOUR MAN (2021)

THE BEAST (2023)

ARTIFICIAL JUSTICE (2024)

COSMIC MINIATURES (2024)

This year's Sci-fi Film Week will join hands with the CPC Songjiang District Committee and the district government to jointly organize the Opening Ceremony of Sci-fi Film Week, the Press Conference of the Shanghai High-tech Films and Televisions City and other offline activities, leveraging science fiction film as a link and Shanghai High-tech Films and Televisions City as a platform, which will help to strengthen the brand of “Shanghai Culture”. Famous filmmakers, scientists and sci-fi writers will be invited to the SIFFORUM, to have in-depth exchanges centering around the theme of “AI + Cinema: New Horizons and New Productive Forces of Sci-fi Films”, and share their insights for the opportunities and challenges brought by artificial intelligence to film creation and the film industry.

As one of the most important parts of Sci-fi Film Week, “Future Engine: Annual Outlook” will also involve the comprehensive promotion and display of sci-fi literary IP and film projects, so as to discover young sci-fi authors, foster the most promising sci-fi literature, drive and facilitate the transformation of excellent sci-fi IPs, and set up a better exchange platform for sci-fi writers and filmmakers to engage with one another.

Sci-fi Film Week will also co-organize the “Future Engine: Night of Movie Heroes” with the magazine ELLEMEN, aiming at encouraging and paying tribute to the filmmakers committed to the development of sci-fi films, and highlighting the spirit of exploration of Chinese filmmakers in sci-fi films, as well as the spirit of dream maker in developing the science and technology strength for film and television.

Among this year’s Sci-fi Film Week series of activities, in addition to the themed screenings, other offline activities will be held on June 17 in Songjiang District, Shanghai, at Shimao Wonderland InterContinental. This year, SIFF guests with passes can participate in the Sci-fi Film Week activities, and other audience members can also log on to the official website of the festival through the “Visitor Registration” and select “Guests to Special Events” to complete the registration and booking of the relevant activities. Seats are limited and available on a first-come-first-served basis, with invitations required for special sessions.