SIFF Unveils 2026 Dates at Berlin Promotion

As the Chinese New Year - the Year of the Horse - draws near, Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF) is galloping full speed ahead with with gathering momentum, launching its 2026 international outreach with the first overseas promotion of the year once again in Berlin, Germany.

On the evening of February 13, local time, SIFF hosted the “China Film Night” at the Berlin International Film Festival, taking further its commitment to building a dynamic platform for cross-cultural exchange defined by openness, inclusivity, and global collaboration. At the event, Chen Guo, Managing Director of Shanghai International Film & TV Events Center, officially announced that the 28th edition of SIFF will take place from June 12 to 21, 2026.

China’s film market is booming with growing vitality, sustained growth potential, and global influence in recent years. As a major international film event, SIFF offers a platform for global filmmakers and the industry to showcase their work, connect with the industry, and develop partnerships.

For the previous edition, Chen Guo noted that it received over 3,900 submissions from 119 countries and regions, with world premiere titles accounting for 77% of the Golden Goblet Award nominations. The festival screened 410 films and hosted nearly 100 audience meetings, drawing close to 500,000 admissions.

Notably, nearly 20 films from the festival secured theatrical releases in China in the past year. The International Film & TV Market, an upgrade of SIFF Market and STVF Market, further cemented its role as a key hub for global content trading and industry networking, bringing together 200 international exhibitors across over 50 industry events, including forums, panel discussions, and project pitches, and attracting over 10,000 professionals worldwide.

Looking forward to the 28th SIFF scheduled for June 12-21 this year, Chen Guo expressed anticipation for meeting friends from around the world in early-summer Shanghai. She also reminded that submissions for the Golden Goblet Awards across five competition categories - Main Competition, Asian New Talent, Documentary, Animation, and Short Film - along with International Panorama, remain open until the end of March. The application channel for the “International Film & TV Market” has also officially launched, with early bird discounts available for applications submitted by the end of March.

More than just a platform to showcase its own achievements, each overseas promotion event of SIFF serves as a panoramic window into the high-quality development of Chinese cinema. It’s also a global magnet that draws industry resources and fuels cross-cultural exchange. The latest Berlin event once again brought together old and new friends from the international film community - especially those with a keen eye on the Chinese market - for an intimate evening of conversation, opportunities, and shared vision for future development.

Anthony Chen, the acclaimed Singaporean director and screenwriter who served on the jury of the Main Competition and chaired the Short Film jury at the 24th Golden Goblet Awards in 2021, is a familiar face at the festival. His earlier works - Ilo Ilo and Wet Season, the first two installments of his “coming-of-age” trilogy - have both screened at SIFF. Now, the trilogy’s final chapter, We Are ALL Strangers, has earned a spot in the Main Competition at the 76th Berlin International Film Festival. At this moment where East meets West, Chen appeared at the SIFF Berlin event and shared with emotion: “Every time I go to SIFF, I run into so many industry people. So, if you’re looking to make your mark in the Chinese film industry, you have to go to Shanghai – it’s home to the country’s biggest film market.”

“SIFF offers a remarkably open and professional platform for international exchange, allowing kindred spirits in cinema to find one another, to collaborate on more polished and thoughtfully crafted works, and to ultimately bring these stories to a wider audience.” These words come from Shen Zhongmin, a Shanghai-born director whose debut feature, Shanghai Daughter, has been selected for the Panorama section at this year’s Berlin International Film Festival. The project received support from SIFF at both script and post-production stages, having been part of SIFF NEXT and later WORK-IN PROGRESS PROJECT (WIP) of SIFF PROJECT. Reflecting on the Festival’s recognition and backing, Shen said: “SIFF’s ongoing commitment to discovering, spotlighting, and nurturing emerging voices and diverse cinematic forms from Asia holds profound and far-reaching significance in today's global film landscape.”

Xu Zao, the young writer-director whose animated short Love Music Friend was shortlisted for the Golden Goblet Award for Best Animated Short Film in 2025, returns this year with his debut feature Light Pillar, selected in the Perspectives section at the Berlin International Film Festival. He credits SIFF as a pivotal starting point in his filmmaking journey, an experience that, in his words, “gave me, as a first-time director, my very first taste of recognition and encouragement. Now, with my debut feature here in Berlin, I’m still deeply grateful to SIFF for validating my beginnings. What makes me even happier is seeing SIFF come to Berlin, building a wonderful bridge for Chinese and international filmmakers to connect, so Chinese cinema can reach further, and we can all sit down together to talk about our work and share our ideas.”

“SIFF isn’t just a gateway for Chinese cinema to reach the world – it’s also how Chinese audiences get to see world cinema.” Jiao Hongfen, Chair of the China Film Producers’ Association and Vice President of FIAPF, shared at the event. Having witnessed and participated in SIFF’s growth firsthand, he expressed how heartening it is to reunite with old and new friends from the global film community. “Standing in Berlin, looking toward Shanghai, we understand more than ever the value of openness and collaboration.” With China now the world’s second-largest film market, he welcomed outstanding films from around the globe to connect with audiences in China.

“If there’s anyone here who hasn’t been to SIFF yet, let me tell you – it’s a vibrant hub for the film industry, offering essential opportunities for international collaboration.” Florence Girot, Festivals Senior Director at FIAPF, attended the China Film Night hosted by SIFF in Berlin for the second consecutive year. In her remarks, she highlighted the numerous initiatives SIFF has launched to foster industry exchange and cooperation, with a broad impact on the film sector. She took the moment to underscore the strong and enduring partnership built over the years, and expressed gratitude for SIFF’s vital support to both Chinese and global cinema.

Cinema fosters cultural exchange, promotes mutual learning among civilizations, and brings hearts and minds closer. The event was imbued with the festive spirit of Chinese New Year, drawing over 200 guests from home and abroad into a warm, convivial atmosphere. More than just a celebration, it was an invitation from SIFF to the world - a call to join hands in painting the future of global cinema through the power of storytelling.

“No dream too far for a willing will; no road too long when we stride with confidence”. As SIFF embarks on a new chapter in 2026, we welcome you to Shanghai this June to celebrate the magic of cinema, explore the city’s charm, savor its cuisine and culture, and collaborate on industry opportunities. On the ever more open, inclusive, and international stage of SIFF, let cinema become part of life, and let dreams meet reality.