Less than a decade ago, the Shanghai Film Festival was the preeminent annual hotspot for Hollywood and European dealmakers determined to forge alliances and carve out a foothold in China’s commercial film sector. In the post-pandemic era, however, as the Chinese industry continues to mature and the Hollywood hype over the country’s market potential long ago gave way to grim reality, the festival has transitioned into a somewhat more inward-facing occasion. That domestic focus is on display in the Shanghai event’s 2024 lineup, which features 10 Chinese movies among the 25 titles of the two main international competition sections (and not a single film from the U.
S. or ). For international film buffs, the Shanghai festival is now best viewed as an opportunity to take stock of current trends in Chinese filmmaking — and on that front, the event’s 2024 lineup is rich with potential.
The 26th runs June 14 to 23. Vietnamese-French director Tran Anh Hung (Cannes’ best director winner last year for ) is the president of the event’s main competition jury this year. Below, picks five can’t-miss Chinese films from the festival’s 2024 selection.
Local hitmaker Guan Hu is undoubtedly the director of the moment at this year’s Shanghai International Film Festival. Just last month, the 55-year-old, sixth-generation filmmaker triumphed at the Cannes Film Festival by winning the event’s prestigious Prix Un Certain Regard with his visually stunning offbeat drama . Starring .