Closing Film of the 28th Shanghai International Film Festival: The Decisive Moment

The 28th Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF) will come to a close on June 21. Following the Golden Goblet Awards Ceremony on the evening of June 20, the festival’s closing film The Decisive Moment will be screened at Shanghai Film Art Center.

This sci-fi feature is produced by Huang Jianxin, directed by Zhang Disha, and scripted by Hu Xiaoxi and Zhang Disha. The lead cast includes Huang Bo, Wu Lei, Gao Ye and Sun Yang. Adopting a dual-timeline interwoven narrative structure, the film unfolds across two eras. In the future timeline, three Chinese astronauts encounter an emergency on their return journey to Earth and lose all contact with the ground control center. At this critical juncture, they pick up a mysterious electronic signal—one that carries an encrypted code poised to alter their fates completely.

A sci-fi adventure exploring the mysteries of the universe, The Decisive Moment boasts a bold and original sci-fi premise. Huang Bo, Gao Ye and Sun Yang portray astronauts in 2035, confronting life-or-death trials in the vast outer space. Wu Lei plays an aerospace researcher back in 1970, whose work from the past is their only hope. The story juxtaposes the sophisticated space technology of the future against the rudimentary early-stage aerospace development of the past. The two timelines are ingeniously linked by the mysterious signal, making possible a cross-era joint effort to break the crisis. Packed with suspense, the plot leaves audiences in eager speculation.

From script development and world-building to visual and audio production, the creative team has pursued meticulous craftsmanship throughout the production, showcasing the ingenuity of Chinese sci-fi cinema. Marking its world premiere as the festival’s closing film, this story spanning past and future will immerse audiences in the allure of deep space and present the romance and power of Chinese sci-fi storytelling.

After its premiere as the closing film of the 28th SIFF, The Decisive Moment is set for a nationwide theatrical release in the summer of 2026.

BONUS SCREENING! Following additional coordination, the 28th SIFF has released extra seats for its popular titles, including the closing film The Decisive Moment. Tickets go on sale today at 12:00 PM (noon).