Exhibition Celebrates Legacy of Shanghai’s Film and TV Festivals

A special exhibition of film and television art – titled ‘Stellar, Splendor & Urban Pulse’ – has opened at Shanghai Film Art Center, the main venue of the 28th Shanghai International Film Festival.

Structured around the concept of storytelling, the exhibition brings together more than 500 historical documents, manuscripts, videos, and rare collections donated by filmmakers and fans. It will run until July 20.

Through four distinct perspectives, it traces the decades-long development of the Shanghai International Film Festival and Shanghai TV Festival.

Artifacts such as an early television set and a video recorder take visitors back to the era when television first entered households. 

An immersive installation by artist Lu Yineng combines elements such as gauze curtains, living spaces and old TV units, evoking a generation's sensory memories of their first encounter with visual imagery.

An exclusive area designed from the perspective of industry players guides visitors to explore the heartwarming stories and humanistic dimensions of the two festivals, allowing them to gain insights into the narratives behind trophy-making, jury decisions, and the iconic quotes left by creators.

The exhibition also invites visitors to shift their focus back to the city and ordinary people, to witness a folk history of cinema shaped by moviegoers' ticket stubs, hand-drawn posters, letters and oral stories. It then pays tribute to the unsung contributors behind the scenes and looks ahead to the future of visual media.

Interaction is woven throughout the exhibition. Besides experiencing installations created by artists including Yan Youren, Yang Fudong, Lu Yineng, and Zhao Bozuo, visitors can draw inspiration from the quote selection area and immerse themselves in a recreated post-screening discussion corner.

This year, the Shanghai International Film Festival and Shanghai TV Festival have upgraded the guest service system and introduced citywide cultural and tourism benefits. By presenting valid identification and film ticket stubs, domestic and international guests can enjoy discounted admission, and exclusive dining offers at numerous cultural venues and star-rated hotels across Shanghai.