Watch Films, Explore Markets, Win Prizes - The Belt and Road Film Week Invites You on a Summer Cinematic Journey

As early summer arrives in Shanghai and dappled light dances through the plane trees’ branches, the 27th Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF) will kick off tomorrow (June 13). And as a permanent fixture of the festival, the Belt and Road Film Week will also begin! We warmly invite film lovers from around the world to join this celebration of cinema, experiencing the collision and fusion of diverse cultures both on and off the screen.

The Belt and Road Film Week this year features 15 distinctive films from countries along the Belt and Road route, weaving a vibrant cultural tapestry through diverse perspectives. Audiences will cross geographical boundaries through the silver screen, witnessing the rebirth of distant stories in the interplay of light and shadow, and discovering emotions that resonate across cultures.

Beyond film screenings and post-screening events, this year, the Belt and Road Film Week will launch an exclusive “Travel through Cinema” event: a Southeast Asian-themed Market at Bicester Village, extending the visual feast into a full sensory experience of food, fun, and shopping. As a thank-you to film fans, all participants in this year’s voting event will have a chance to win a RIMOWA suitcase...

Below is a specially curated movie-watching guide - may it unlock an unforgettable cinematic journey into film culture, creating unique summer memories through the magic of film!

Daily highlights coming soon!

Belt and Road Film Week Screenings

June 13-27

Partner Cinemas in Yangtze River Delta

Shanghai, Nanjing, Suzhou

Hangzhou, Ningbo, Hefei

The Belt and Road Film Week of this edition will present 15 selected films from countries along the route, some of which have been previously featured in prestigious international festivals such as Rotterdam, Locarno, and Tokyo, showcasing the charm of cinematic art through diverse cultural perspectives. As an important platform for cross-cultural exchange, the screening will build bridges between nations, to foster cultural dialogue through stories on the silver screen.

On-site audiences can participate in voting for the two honors - “Audience Choice Award” and “Audience Recommendation Award” - all valid ballots will automatically qualify for the June 20 “Charm Pudong Gala Night” lucky draw, with a chance to win a RIMOWA suitcase. The audience selection activity is only available at the following three cinemas: PALACE CINEMA (L+MALL), SFC Shangying Cinema (Dingxiang), and Shangying-Bailian Cinema(Babaiban). For activity rules, please refer to the notices at designated cinemas.

Guide to Remaining Tickets for the Meet-and-Greet

This year, the Belt and Road Film Week will host 8 post-screening meet-and-greet sessions, with some selling out immediately upon ticket release. A limited number of screenings still have tickets available, including several acclaimed entries that have earned their spots in prestigious international film festivals: FEKETE PONT (June 17, 18:00) - Nominated for Best Film in the Filmmakers of the Present section at the Locarno International Film Festival; LIONESS (June 18, 18:00) - Selected for the International Competition section at Warsaw Film Festival 2024; The Reverse Side of the Medal (June 18, 18:00) - A biopic inspired by Armenian weightlifting champion Nazik; TRAFFIC (June 19, 15:30) - Starring a Tokyo International Film Festival Best Actress winner; FABULA (June 19, 18:00) and TEARS IN KUALA LUMPUR (June 19, 18:30) - Both critically acclaimed at Rotterdam International Film Festival.

All meet-and-greet sessions will take place at three designated cinemas in Pudong, where audiences can participate in live voting. Fans eager to interact face-to-face with filmmakers can purchase tickets via the Taopiaopiao - SIFF Zone.

Yangtze River Delta Screening Schedule

The Belt and Road Film Week will also highlight five carefully selected international films in five cities - Nanjing, Suzhou, Hangzhou, Ningbo, and Hefei - allowing movie enthusiasts across the Yangtze River Delta region to experience the cinematic magic of SIFF right in their hometowns and appreciate the unique local cultures and customs portrayed in these films from various regions along the route.

Photos of Yangtze River Delta Screening Events 2024

Launching Ceremony of the Belt and Road Film Week

(Invitation only)

June 18  15:00-15:35

Venue: Shendi Cultural Centre

The launching ceremony will invite film week ambassadors, domestic and international filmmakers, industry veterans and media partners to attend and launch the rich and colorful series of activities of the film week.

The Belt and Road Film Culture Roundtable

(Invitation only)

June 18  13:00-14:30

Venue: Shendi Cultural Centre

This year’s roundtable will bring together representatives from international film festivals and filmmakers for in-depth discussions on cinematic exchange and cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative. The first session will focus on film festivals themselves, exploring how they can assume more responsibilities in nurturing young filmmakers and promoting multicultural communication. The second session will concentrate on the production and distribution of international co-productions. From cultural, policy, and market perspectives, participants will examine the opportunities and challenges of Belt and Road film co-productions, aiming to foster international collaboration and innovation in the film industry.

 Festivals Bridge Industry Workshop 2024

The Belt and Road Film Industry Roundtable

(Invitation only)

June 18  Time: 16:00-17:00

Venue: Venue: Shendi Cultural Centre

Driven by both the upgrade in content consumption and the rise of the experience economy, the physical recreation of film and television IPs is emerging as a new engine for cultural tourism development and consumer hub construction. High-quality IPs are brought to life through scenarized, interactive, and commercial formats. This not only extends the lifecycle of content, but also rebuilds consumer engagement through emotional resonance and immersive experiences - fueling innovation in cultural tourism formats and industry models, as well as regional economic growth. This forum brings together film and television content creators and IP operators to share their exploratory plans and practical executions - from content incubation to real-world implementation - providing methodologies and forward-looking insights on how Chinese IP can develop globally impactful immersive entertainment projects.

Charm Pudong Gala Night

(Invitation only)

June 20  18:00-19:00

Venue: Museum of Art Pudong

The event will echo the theme “Traveling with Movies”, unveiling from multiple perspectives the unique charm and open spirit of Shanghai as an international cultural metropolis. The venue will offer immersive cultural experiences, with a series of modern music and dance performances inspired by traditional Chinese culture, blending the ancient and the contemporary to express the essence of Eastern aesthetics. That evening, the “Audience Choice Films” honors of this year’s Belt and Road Film Week will be announced, and a lucky draw will be held on-site among audience members who participated in the screening voting. Special guests will also be invited to launch the next chapter of the Belt and Road Film Tour, continuing the cinematic cultural journey.

Spectacles Both on and off the Screen

The Belt and Road Film Week invites you to embark on a cultural exploration journey.

Open a new chapter of wonder!

Southeast Asian-themed Market

June 20 - June 22

June 27 - June 29

Venue: Bicester Village

This year’s Belt and Road Film Week will come with an innovative fusion of culture, commerce, and tourism at Bicester Village in Shanghai International Resort - the Southeast Asian-themed Market. During the event, visitors can not only admire the exquisite embroidery of traditional Southeast Asian costumes and the dynamic rhythms of ethnic dances up close, but also personally participate in featured cultural tourism activities like handicraft workshops. The venue will also stage a 3D MAPPING light show, illuminating the night with digital art, while performers in traditional attire will form a parade, moving through the market streets to characteristic music, showcasing exotic charm with their lively dance steps. This summer, residents and tourists need not travel far to experience the leisurely vibe of tropical islands in Shanghai’s Pudong, enjoying the unique allure of Southeast Asian culture amidst swaying coconut shadows.

▲ Note: Certain professional sessions are by invitation only and exclusively for invited guests. Please check the event details in advance and make itinerary plans accordingly.

The Belt and Road Film Festival Alliance was initiated by the Organizing Committee of SIFF and was established in 2018, currently consisting of 55 member institutions from 48 countries. Against the backdrop of the Belt and Road Initiative, the alliance focuses on reciprocal film recommendations and filmmaker exchanges, and aims to enhance the capabilities of film curation, promote mutual understanding among filmmakers, facilitate film cooperation projects, strengthen exchanges in film culture among countries, establish a close information-sharing mechanism, and explore future development models for film festivals.

Civilization thrives through exchange and mutual learning. Since the establishment of Belt and Road Film Festival Alliance, SIFF, together with the Publicity Department of the CPC Pudong New Area Committee (District Cultural, Sports and Tourism Bureau), and the Administrative Committee of Shanghai International Resort, has teamed up to organize the Belt and Road Film Week, and created a mechanism with the Belt and Road Film Tour, effectively promoting two-way exchanges and mutual learning between filmmakers and film cultures along the Belt and Road route, and further enhancing cultural exchanges and people-to-people bonds among countries along the route.