Official Promotional Film of the 28th Shanghai International Film Festival Released

On May 15, the 2026 SIFF & STVF held a press conference in Beijing. Guided by the China Film Administration and hosted by China Media Group (CMG) and the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government, the 28th Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF) will take place from June 12 to 21. Hosted by the National Radio and Television Administration (NRTA), CMG, and the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government, the 31st Shanghai TV Festival (STVF) will be held from June 22 to 26.At the press conference, the official promotional film of this year’s SIFF, Step into the Story, was unveiled.

Official Promotional Film of the 28th SIFF

Today (May 15), the 28th SIFF officially released its official promotional film, Step into the Story — a cinematic “invitation” extended to audiences at home and abroad.

Directed by young filmmaker Wang Tong and starring Huang Bo, Wan Qian, and young actress Feng Maya, the film is both imaginative and heartwarming. Notably, the key creatives share deep ties to SIFF. Wang Tong is the winner of the Grand Jury Prize in the Main Competition section at last year’s SIFF. Huang Bo served as a jury member for the Golden Goblet Awards at the previous edition and won the Golden Goblet for Best Actor at the 20th SIFF in 2017. Wan Qian was last year’s Golden Goblet winner for Best Actress. Their reunion marks a continuing story, still unfolding.

In the film, Huang Bo plays a storyboard artist and Wan Qian plays a screenwriter — both creators working in different corners of Shanghai. Young actress Feng Maya portrays a mysterious girl, seen running through the city’s streets and alleyways. The three exist in seemingly parallel spaces, yet as the narrative unfolds, it becomes clear that the girl is actually a character co-created by the two filmmakers.

At the heart of the story is a movie invitation fluttering through the air, with one puzzle piece missing. The story remains incomplete — a missing piece waiting to be filled. It is only at the end of the promotional film that the final piece falls into place: every audience member about to enter the theater is formally invited to “step into the story”. They are the ones who complete the narrative.

With every frame of the promotional film, the story plays out like an absorbing mystery. Much like the journey of any film, a story begins in life and is then projected onto the screen. But ultimately, the final act of co-creation is completed by each viewer’s gaze, breath, and imagination. The audience is not merely a viewer, but an indispensable participant in the filmmaking process. As China’s only “A”-list film festival, SIFF offers audiences a window into the world’s most cutting-edge cinema. And every masterfully crafted work only reaches its true destination when it is seen.

Beyond its structural and conceptual ingenuity, the promotional film also leaves a strong impression with its artistically rich imagery. As the creators themselves noted, Shanghai is truly a “city of film” — every corner is cinematic. During the shoot, they sometimes even forgot they were making a film, feeling instead as if they were simply living real life.

Cinema enriches the cultural fabric of Shanghai, while in turn, Shanghai offers a dream-making space for filmmakers and film lovers alike. As a quiet testament to the enduring spirit of cinema, this promotional film, where old and new friends of the festival meet, has not only created a warm atmosphere that brings talented filmmakers from around the world together, but also underscored the festival’s commitment to supporting emerging talents.

SIFF is a celebration for both filmmakers and audiences, and each edition is an invitation. Cinema, too, is a letter to life. We look for its traces in our everyday moments, and we see the possibilities of life on the screen. This June, we will be waiting for you — in the name of cinema.