The 28th Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF) is set to explore the cutting-edge AI storytelling, while receiving a record-breaking number of international submissions, organizers said at a press conference in Beijing on Thursday.
The festival has achieved a new milestone in receiving nearly 4,100 submissions from 125 countries and regions. For the first time in its history, entries have been received from African nations including Ghana and Mozambique, reflecting the festival's growing influence across the world.
Over 80 percent of the films selected for competition will make their international premieres in Shanghai, reinforcing Shanghai’s role as a key platform for global cinema.
Beyond its expanding global footprint, the festival is placing significant emphasis on the intersection of technology and storytelling. A focus on artificial intelligence will feature a series of projects and discussions exploring how AI is transforming every aspect of the filmmaking process.
Chen Guo, deputy Secretary-General of the Shanghai International Film and TV Festival Organizing Committee, elaborated on the festival's practical approach to AI innovation.
"It actually focuses more on the challenges encountered by film and video work producers and AI when they team up to create a production, as well as what tasks AI can perform and replace some traditional filmmaking functions," she said.
The Shanghai International Film Festival is organized under the guidance of the China Film Administration (CFA) in cooperation with the China Media Group (CMG) and Shanghai Municipal People's Government.
Founded in 1993, the festival 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.
The 28th edition will take place from June 12 to 21, followed by the Shanghai TV Festival later in the month.
28th Shanghai Int'l Film Festival highlights AI storytelling
