The 28th Shanghai International Film Festival will run from June 12 to 21, followed by the 31st Shanghai TV Festival from June 22 to 26. Organizers unveiled the lineup at a news conference in Beijing on May 15.

Shanghai International Film Festival

Shanghai premieres draw global filmmakers

The 28th SIFF received approximately 4,100 film submissions from 125 countries and regions, setting a new record. First-time participants included Ghana and Mozambique. Of the roughly 3,000 eligible competition entries, 82 percent are world or international premieres, cementing Shanghai's status as a preferred launch pad for filmmakers from around the globe.

Global jury brings broad perspective

The Golden Goblet Awards main competition jury comprises 21 members from 16 countries and regions, including China, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Mexico, Portugal, and Singapore. This broad geographic representation reflects the diversity of global film cultures and ensures an inclusive perspective in the judging process.

Belt and Road events

The Belt and Road Film Festival Alliance, initiated by SIFF, now includes 57 members from 50 countries. During the festival, special events will include an Egyptian Film Week marking the 70th anniversary of China-Egypt diplomatic relations, as well as the Focus Brazil screening event celebrating the China-Brazil Year of Culture.

Diverse screening program

More than 420 international films will be showcased across curated sections in over 1,500 screenings. Retrospective highlights include tributes to Billy Wilder and Marilyn Monroe, and a special program for British director Ken Loach's 90th birthday. The selection also embraces cutting-edge technology, featuring IMAX and Dolby presentations alongside sci-fi classics by Steven Spielberg, works by French animator Rene Laloux, and a continued focus on films using AI technology. New release sections, including works by acclaimed directors, festival highlights, and world premieres, return with a fresh lineup of influential international films.

Shanghai TV Festival

The 31st STVF received over 1,000 entries from 60 countries and regions across five continents, a 39.5 percent increase from last year's 43 countries. Growth was particularly strong in submissions from Asia and South America. For overseas TV dramas alone, entries rose from 142 in 2025 to 184, with the number of submitting countries climbing from 28 to 37.

The geographical distribution has shifted from a Europe-centered concentration to a more balanced representation across Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and South America, highlighting the expanding global reach and diversity of the Magnolia Awards.

The Magnolia Awards jury for this year's TV festival comprises 15 members from seven countries: China, France, Germany, Italy, Singapore, Ireland, and Malaysia.

As part of the 2026 China-Brazil Year of Culture, the festival will host a special screening of the classic 1976 Brazilian TV drama Escrava Isaura (Isaura: Slave Girl). Lucelia Santos, the actress who played Isaura, a character beloved by Chinese audiences, will be invited to China.

The festival's highlight, the Magnolia Awards Ceremony, will be held on the evening of June 26 in the Lin-gang Special Area.

Spotlight on technology and innovation

Cutting-edge technologies are transforming the film and television industry. This year's festivals place a strong emphasis on emerging tech trends and aim to foster two-way empowerment between the arts and digital intelligence.

As part of a new initiative, SIFF has partnered with Hailuo AI to launch the AI Backlot section. This program integrates AI-assisted filmmaking into a real production workflow, offering an in-depth view of the entire creative process.

At the STVF forum, a panel will explore AI's role in micro-drama production, with case studies that demonstrate how the industry can shift from high-volume output to higher-quality content.

Extended screenings for a longer festival experience

This year's Shanghai International Film & TV Festival will feature an extended screening format, running from June 12 to 28. Following the close of the film festival, a week of encore screenings will showcase Golden Goblet Awards winners and other popular titles. The full screening schedule will be released on June 3, with tickets going on sale on June 5 through the official ticketing platform, Damai.

Sources: Shanghai Observer, SIFF, STVF