SIFF PROJECT | 2021 SIFF PROJECT Announces Recommended Projects

On June 15, the 24th Shanghai International Film Festival - SIFF PROJECT announced the recommended project this year, making the end of this 4-day event.

This SIFF PROJECT received a total of 324 valid project applications, and finally 31 projects were shortlisted, including 8 "Young Director Projects", 3 "International Cooperation Projects", 11 "Work in Creation Projects", and 9 "Work in Progress Projects". These works have a wide range of subjects and have aroused enthusiastic responses in the film market. During the event, a total of 645 negotiations were completed, and three rounds of "Work in Progress Projects" trial screenings were organized.

There are 5 partners in this year's SIFF PROJECT. Tencent Pictures and Maoyan Pictures will select projects from all shortlisted non-"Work in Progress Projects" and provide them with 150,000 yuan support; ShanghaiTech University-USC Film and Television Project Special Projects will select 3 projects from all shortlisted projects, to provide 3 months of screenwriting module learning opportunities for 3-5 chief creators (producers, screenwriters, directors); Mofei Pictures will select 1 project from all shortlisted "Work in Progress Projects" and provide them with post-production sound production service equivalent to 200,000 yuan; Vivid Digital will select 1 project from all the shortlisted "Work in Progress Projects" and provide it with a Baselight color technology production service worth 250,000 yuan in cash.

In the past 15 years, SIFF PROJECT has witnessed 82 films entering production, 62 films participating in major domestic and foreign film festivals, and 40 films appearing at Category A film festivals. It is worth mentioning that there are 3 past projects of SIFF PROJECT that have been completed and will be unveiled at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival: "Remainder" (SIFF PROJECT 2017, 2020) directed by Na Jiazuo enters the "A Kind of Concern" unit, "Are You Lonesome Tonight" (SIFF PROJECT 2017) directed by Wen Shipei enters the "Special Screening" unit and was screened in theaters on June 12 this year, and “Ripples of Life” ("SIFF PROJECT 2020") directed by Wei Shujun enteres the "Directors' Fortnight" "unit.

Five SIFF PROJECT projects over the years shined at this Shanghai International Film Festival: "Manchurian Tiger" (SIFF PROJECT 2017) directed by Geng Jun was shortlisted for the main competition of the Golden Goblet Awards, and "Hot Soup" directed by Zhang Ming (SIFF PROJECT 2018) ) appeared in the "Famous Director's New Works" screening unit, "ANIMA" (SIFF PROJECT 2018, 2019) directed by Cao Jinling became the opening film and finalist film of the Belt and Road Film Week, and "Fish Under the Ice" directed by Zhang Li ( SIFF PROJECT 2019) participated in the "Chinese New Style" screening unit. Director Zhang Meng's "The Piano in a Factory" (SIFF PROJECT 2009) won the "Most Innovative Project" of SIFF PROJECT that year. And this year, it came to the "Film History Recommendation" screening unit, causing a response.

For this year’s SIFF PROJECT, SIFF NEXT recommended "Homeland", "The Man Who Fought Ali", "Xiao Chan Juan" and "Vanished Girl". Among them, "The Man Who Fought Ali" embodies the stepped newcomer incubation system of SIFF: director Tang Chengqin was once a trainee of the 2019 SIFF NEXT director group. The project was "specially mentioned" in the second stage of the 2020 SIFF NEXT event, and finally Enter this year's SIFF PROJECT "Young Director Project".

As an incubator for excellent film works and an important platform for the industry to discover new Chinese film talents, after years of hard work, the ecological effect of SIFF PROJECT in cultivating newcomers and new works is gradually showing. Film newcomers grow up here, and good films start here.

Recommended projects of “Young Director Project”

“Seven Days in Late Spring”

Comment: The author's private writing is beneficially combined with a large number of genre elements. The structure is complete, the narrative is mature, and it has a close connection with the current society.

Creative recommendation project

“The Sleepless Girl”

Comment: Unique creativity, oriented to popular audiences; simpler and more flexible production methods for genre film practice.

Specially recommended project

"The Man Who Fought Ali"

Comment: The type is clear, the characters are distinct, the story is complete, the mood is strong, and it has good commercial potential. It is a movie project that the market expects and needs.

Recommended Projects in Work in Progress Project

“One Day Tour”

Comment: A distinctive author style, independent and self-consistent audio-visual language, presenting the contemporary Chinese social life in an extreme way.

Specially Mentioned Projects in Work in Progress Project

“Starlight Moment”

Comment: Pure creative purpose, simple entry point, advanced sense of humor, comes from life, and returns to movies.

Tencent Pictures Special-attention Projects

"Zero and Countless"

Maoyan Pictures Special-attention Projects

“Seven Days in Late Spring”

ShanghaiTech University-USC Project Special-attention Projects

 "The Man Who Fought Ali", "Zero and Countless", “Cactus Diary”

Mofei Pictures New Voice Attention Project

”No.23”

Vivid Digital Special-attention Project

“When Will You Be Back”

SIFF PROJECT

Since its establishment in 2007, SIFF PROJECT has been successfully held for 14 consecutive years, witnessing 82 projects entering production. It is not only an incubator for outstanding film works, but also an important platform for the industry to discover new Chinese film talents. At present, 4 units have been formed: Young Director Project, International Cooperation Project, Work in Creation Project, and Work in Progress Project, providing targeted incubation, financing, promotion and other activities design and docking services for projects of different temperaments and stages.