10th June 2023 – (Shanghai) The 25th Shanghai International Film Festival kicked off on Friday night with a dazzling Red Carpet ceremony and a gala performance at Shanghai Grand Theater. The festival, which runs from 9th to 18th June, will announce the Golden Goblet Awards in five categories: the main competition for feature-length films, and the competitions for Asian new talents, documentaries, animations, and short films.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the SIFF, and at the Red Carpet ceremony, Oscar-award-winning actress Michelle Yeoh from Malaysia reminisced about her career and the passion for cinema that she developed 30 years ago when she decided to return to making movies and shot Police Story III with Jackie Chan. She expressed her love for filmmaking and the joy it brings to her life.
Jerzy Skolimowski from Poland, the President of the main competition of the Golden Goblet Awards, also spoke at the opening ceremony about his family ties with China. His father was born in Northeastern China 100 years ago, where his grandfather, a renowned architect, used to work as an urban designer. Skolimowski emphasized the importance of film as an art form that brings people together, highlighting the commonalities among individuals.
The opening film of the festival this year is Love Never Ends, a film directed by Han Yan about the love stories of the elderly. Han Yan, a 40-year-old director, spoke about his fears and confusion about aging and how working with the four leading actors, Ni Dahong, Kara Wai Ying Hung, Tony Leung Ka Fai, and Cecilia Ip, helped dissolve his fears and confusion. He expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to work with such great role models.
The festival has attracted thousands of film enthusiasts, industry professionals, and celebrities from all over the world. The SIFF is one of the most prestigious film festivals in Asia and has become a platform for filmmakers to showcase their work to a global audience. This year’s festival features a diverse selection of films from different genres, countries, and cultures.