Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF)

Overview

The Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF) is China's most prestigious film festival and the only FIAPF A-list festival in mainland China. Founded in 1993 and held annually in June in Shanghai -- China's most cosmopolitan city and global financial gateway -- SIFF is one of only fourteen festivals worldwide to hold FIAPF's highest-level competitive accreditation.

Shanghai's identity as China's most internationally open city, its extraordinary Art Deco and colonial-era architecture, its position as Asia's premier financial center, and its long history as a meeting point between Chinese and Western cultures give the festival an unusual depth. The city's film culture extends back to the 1920s and 1930s, when Shanghai was one of the world's most productive film industries.

SIFF's Golden Goblet Award is China's most prestigious competitive film prize.

Key Sections

• Main Competition -- international films competing for the Golden Goblet
• Asian New Talent Awards -- competition for debut Asian films
• Chinese Film Panorama -- new Chinese features
• Documentary Competition -- nonfiction features
• Short Film Competition -- competitive short programs

What Filmmakers Should Know

SIFF accepts submissions by invitation for the Main Competition and open submissions for other sections. The Golden Goblet is a significant international prize. Content restrictions apply and submissions are evaluated within Chinese regulatory guidelines.

Major Awards

• Golden Goblet -- Best Film
• Best Director
• Best Actor / Best Actress
• Asian New Talent Award

Festival History

SIFF was founded in 1993 and holds biennial status in alternating years with Beijing, though in practice has operated nearly annually.

See Also

For Chinese cinema, see International Film Markets. For Beijing film festival, see Beijing International Film Festival.