28th Shanghai Int'l Film Festival set for June 12-21

The 28th Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF) will take place from June 12 to 21, organizers said at a press briefing in Beijing on Friday.

This year's SIFF has received approximately 4,100 film submissions from 125 countries and regions around the world. Notably, according to the organizers, the festival has introduced an innovative "AI Studio" section, exploring new pathways and possibilities for filmmaking in the age of artificial intelligence (AI).

"This section will integrate AI-powered filmmaking into real production workflows. We are proactively responding to the profound changes that AI technology is bringing to film and television creation in terms of industrial processes and talent structures," said Fang Shizhong, vice chairman and secretary-general of the organizing committee of the Shanghai International Film and TV Festival.

In February, the China Film Administration (CFA) and other institutions jointly launched a nationwide program to boost the film economy, aiming to expand moviegoing consumption by integrating the film industry with multiple other sectors.

As part of this initiative, this year's SIFF will vigorously promote the integration of culture, commerce, tourism, sports, and exhibitions to expand consumption scenarios and turn the big screen's popularity into tangible growth for the real economy.

"We will also leverage the integration of culture, commerce, tourism, sports, and exhibitions to drive synergy across diverse business formats and create a multi-sensory urban experience for visitors. We will set up a variety of photo-worthy installations, launch film IP-themed city walking routes, and for the first time introduce a 'film fan passport,' making movie-watching, check-ins, stamp-collecting, and interactive activities a way of life during the festival," Fang said.

The Shanghai International Film Festival is organized under the guidance of the CFA and co-hosted by China Media Group (CMG) and the Shanghai Municipal People's Government.

Founded in 1993, SIFF is a prestigious global event, driven by Shanghai's ambition to become an international cultural hub. The festival has garnered growing international attention thanks to China's flourishing film market.

28th Shanghai Int'l Film Festival set for June 12-21

The landmark meeting between the Chinese and U.S. heads of state carries positive weight for global stability and international cooperation, and offers hope for the defense of multilateralism which has come under attack in recent times, according to a Brazilian international relations scholar.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday concluded a three-day state visit to China at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, which marked the first such U.S. presidential visit in nine years.

In a meeting closely watched by the world, Xi and Trump held talks on Thursday in which they agreed on a new vision of building a constructive bilateral relationship of strategic stability.

Prior to departing the Chinese capital on Friday, Trump said his state visit has captured the world's attention and described it as very successful and unforgettable. He also said he looks forward to hosting President Xi in Washington, D.C.

In an interview with the China Global Television Network (CGTN), Professor Paulo Borba Casella, coordinator of the BRICS Study Group at the University of Sao Paulo, described the U.S. president's visit to China as an encouraging sign for the international community, believing that it can help safeguard the rules-based multilateral order.

"The simple fact that they sit and talk is a positive move, and this is important for the future of multilateralism. Multilateralism is being attacked systematically by the United States, whereas China has been stating that this is relevant not only for them, but for the entire international community, for the world at large, which is something which sounds like music to my ears. I believe that international institutions, international rules, are necessary, and the world without them would be much harsher and unpredictable than we see now," he said.

Xi-Trump summit 'important for future of multilateralism': Brazilian scholar