The Belt and Road Film Week Unveiled: A New Landscape of Cultural Exchange

On the afternoon of June 18, the 27th Shanghai International Film Festival’s Belt and Road Film Week officially opened at the Shendi Cultural Center in Shanghai’s Pudong New Area. Actors Huang Xiaoming, Yu Shi, and actress Tiffany Tang, were awarded certificates as Belt and Road Film Week Ambassadors. Twenty key enterprises and projects from the film and cultural creative industries signed agreements to establish a presence in Shanghai International Resort, and the Southeast Asian-themed Market was officially launched.

With the theme “Travel through Cinema”, this year’s Belt and Road Film Week features a rich lineup of activities, including film screenings, cultural and industry roundtable talks, the “Charm Pudong Tour” cultural tourism experience, and the “Belt and Road” lifestyle market. The event serves as both a platform for international industry dialogue and an immersive cultural experience for residents and tourists - blending professional depth with popular appeal, and fostering international cultural and industrial exchange.

2025 marks the 130th anniversary of world cinema and the 120th anniversary of Chinese cinema. As the birthplace of Chinese film, Shanghai has not only witnessed the evolution of China’s cinematic history in 100 years but has also actively contributed to the development of global film culture with an open and inclusive spirit. Since its inception seven years ago, the Belt and Road Film Week has remained committed to both “bringing in” international films and “going out” with Chinese stories - building bridges for cultural exchange and expanding its global influence year by year.

This year’s screening section features 15 films from Belt and Road countries, spanning a wide range of genres. Several of these works have competed in the main competitions of prestigious festivals in Rotterdam, Locarno, and Tokyo. With a focus on cross-cultural storytelling and regional identity, the showcase brings Silk Road civilizations to life on screen, fostering a platform for global humanistic dialogue.

Eight post-screening meet-greet sessions with film creators have been specially arranged for this year’s film week, with some events selling out on the day tickets were released - demonstrating strong audience enthusiasm. Honors including “Audience Choice Award” and “Audience Recommendation Award”, determined by public vote, will be announced at the “Charm Pudong Gala Night” event on June 20. Additionally, five standout films will be screened simultaneously in five cities - Nanjing, Suzhou, Hangzhou, Ningbo, and Hefei - allowing audiences across the Yangtze River Delta to experience the charm of SIFF and gain insights into the cultures along the Silk Road.

During the Film Week, more than 40 international filmmakers from over 20 Belt and Road partner countries gathered in Pudong. Through alliance meetings, roundtable forums, and other events, they engaged in in-depth discussions on key topics such as film industry cooperation, overseas promotion of films, and the cultivation of young filmmaking talent within the Belt and Road framework.

As the foundation of the Belt and Road Film Week, the Belt and Road Film Festival Alliance has rapidly expanded since its inception. With the recent addition of the Serbia International Film and Music Festival, the alliance has grown from 31 institutions in 29 countries to 56 institutions across 49 countries. At the launching ceremony, 20 alliance members and international guests attending this year’s Belt and Road Film Week were awarded honorary guest certificates.

To further deepen film-related exchanges and collaboration among Belt and Road countries, this year’s Belt and Road Film Week appointed actors Huang Xiaoming, Yushi, and actress Tiffany Tang, as the Ambassadors. Their role is to help amplify the global reach of film culture and open a new chapter in cinematic exchange with audiences at home and abroad. At the opening ceremony, all three ambassadors received their official certificates and delivered speeches promoting the initiative.

Over the past seven years, Pudong has fully leveraged its role as a “bridgehead” in the Belt and Road Initiative, using film as a cultural medium and the Belt and Road Film Festival Alliance as a collaborative mechanism to build a bridge for international cooperation in the film industry. This has driven deep integration between the film sector and regional economy, tourism, culture, and technology.

The long-running Belt and Road Film Week has introduced a wealth of film industry resources into the Shanghai International Resort. To date, more than 180 film and cultural creative enterprises have established a presence in the area. These include not only film and entertainment companies but also businesses involved in tourism, culture, commerce, and exhibitions along the industry chain.

This year, 20 additional key film and cultural creative projects and enterprises launched or settled in the resort. At the opening ceremony, representatives participated in an on-site signing event, marking a new milestone in the development of the Shanghai International Resort as a major hub for the film and creative industries. This further strengthens its ambition to become a screen culture powerhouse with global influence.

In recent years, the Belt and Road Film Week has continuously expanded in both scope and scale. Leveraging the platform of the Belt and Road Film Week, Shanghai International Resort has integrated diverse resources to enrich the film consumption ecosystem and promote the fusion of culture, tourism, business, sports, and exhibitions.

Following the success of last year’s Latin American Fiesta, this year’s Belt and Road Film Week has been upgraded with the launch of a Southeast Asian-themed Market at Bicester Village Shanghai within the resort. The event presents a vibrant summer celebration where culture, tourism, commerce, sports, and exhibitions come together. Threaded by the Belt and Road Initiative, the market blends Southeast Asian flair with local culture - offering an immersive experience that engages the senses through food, art, and film.

In addition, the “Charm Pudong Tour” weaves together attractions, cultural venues, and the Belt and Road Film Week activities across the resort, giving international filmmakers a deeper appreciation of Pudong’s cinematic charm while enjoying its urban landscapes.

As a core section of SIFF, the Belt and Road Film Week continues to use the Shanghai International Resort as its base - gathering global film talent and driving the integrated development of film, culture, tourism, business, sports, and exhibitions. It injects fresh momentum into Pudong’s ambition to build a globally influential hub for cultural and artistic exchange.