The "Beijing Film Panorama", a flagship segment of the 16th Beijing International Film Festival, opened on Thursday in Beijing, offering audiences a diverse lineup of nearly 260 outstanding Chinese and international films.
This year’s selection includes titles nominated for the festival’s Tiantan Award, such as All The Good Eyes and At Work. About 800 screenings will be held at major commercial cinemas, art houses, and theaters across the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region in north China.
The panorama, which will run through April 26, features 18 screening units, including a Master Retrospective section, with many films being shown for the first time to Chinese audiences. Restored Chinese classics will return to the big screen, alongside 4K drama films such as Beneath the Red Banner and Zhang Juzheng, offering an immersive theatrical experience. Outdoor screenings will also be held in various commercial districts across Beijing.
"I've brought some of my printed ticket stubs and some merchandise I made myself. These are related to the films to be screened this year. I would like to exchange these items on site," said Yao Shuai, a filmgoer at the China Film Archive.
"The most important goal of the Beijing Film Panorama is to foster a strong cinema culture and a culture of classic films. That’s why we’ve placed greater emphasis on classic films in our selection. Audiences have shown a real interest in high-format, high-concept content -- many of those screenings sold out immediately. Overall, we're seeing more ticket buyers in their 30s and 40s, and the number of younger viewers is also growing," said Lin Siwei, deputy director of the China Film Archive.
Running from Thursday to April 25, this year's film festival will feature 10 major sections, including film screenings, industry forums, and the Tiantan Award competition, which aims to encourage diversity in global filmmaking.
Beijing Film Panorama to screen 260 Chinese, international films
