The Belt and Road Film Week opened in Shanghai on June 18 as part of the 27th Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF), serving as a platform for international industry dialogue and offering an immersive cultural experience for residents and visitors.

Actors Huang Xiaoming, Tang Yan and Yu Shi receive certificates appointing them as Belt and Road Film Week ambassadors during the opening ceremony in Shanghai, June 18, 2025. [Photo courtesy of SIFF Organizing Committee]

The event, themed "Travel through Cinema" and held primarily in Shanghai's Pudong New Area, features a diverse program, including film screenings, cultural industry roundtables, the Charm Pudong Tour cultural experience, and a Belt and Road lifestyle market. Organizers said they aim to combine industry expertise with public participation and promote global cultural exchange.

This year's lineup features 15 films from Belt and Road countries, spanning a range of genres. Several entries have been screened at major film festivals, including Rotterdam, Locarno, and Tokyo. The program centers on cross-cultural narratives and regional identities, aiming to spotlight the cultures along the ancient Silk Road.

Event coordinators have arranged eight post-screening filmmaker meet-and-greets, some of which have sold out. Five standout films are screening concurrently in Nanjing, Suzhou, Hangzhou, Ningbo and Hefei, extending the SIFF experience across the Yangtze River Delta. Honors such as the Audience Choice Award and Audience Recommendation Award are being decided by public voting during the film week.

The event is bringing together more than 40 international filmmakers from over 20 Belt and Road countries in Pudong. Throughout the week, participants will explore key industry topics such as cross-border film collaboration, international distribution strategies, and the nurturing of emerging talent under the Belt and Road Initiative through alliance meetings and roundtable forums.

The Belt and Road Film Festival Alliance, the foundation of the film week, has expanded rapidly since its launch. With the recent addition of the Serbia International Film and Music Festival, the alliance now includes 56 institutions in 49 countries, up from 31 institutions in 29 countries. Twenty alliance members and international guests received honorary certificates during the opening ceremony.

Members of the Belt and Road Film Festival Alliance and international guests receive honorary certificates during the opening ceremony of the Belt and Road Film Week in Shanghai, June 18, 2025. [Photo courtesy of SIFF Organizing Committee]

To strengthen cinematic exchanges among Belt and Road countries, this year's film week appointed actors Huang Xiaoming, Yu Shi and Tang Yan as event ambassadors. Organizers said the trio will help broaden international outreach and engage audiences in China and overseas.

The year 2025 marks the 130th anniversary of world cinema and the 120th anniversary of Chinese cinema. Shanghai, the birthplace of Chinese film, has played a key role in both the nation's cinematic evolution and the global industry. Since its launch seven years ago, the Belt and Road Film Week has combined international films with Chinese storytelling abroad, strengthening cultural ties and expanding its global reach each year.

Building on last year's Latin American Fiesta, this year's Belt and Road Film Week includes a Southeast Asian market at Bicester Village Shanghai. The summer event combines culture, tourism, commerce, sports and exhibitions. Inspired by the Belt and Road Initiative, the market blends Southeast Asian and local elements, offering an immersive experience of food, art and film.

The Belt and Road Film Week has also brought significant film industry resources to the Shanghai International Resort Area, a major tourism and entertainment zone in Pudong that includes the Shanghai Disney Resort and other commercial and cultural facilities. More than 180 film and cultural companies now operate in the area, covering entertainment, tourism, business and exhibitions.

Representatives of 20 key film and cultural projects sign agreements to establish operations at the resort during the Belt and Road Film Week opening ceremony in Shanghai, June 18, 2025. [Photo courtesy of SIFF Organizing Committee]

This year, 20 additional film and cultural companies set up operations in the resort area. Representatives signed agreements at an on-site ceremony during the opening event, marking a new stage in the development of Shanghai International Resort Area as a film and creative hub. Organizers said these efforts support the resort's goal of becoming a globally influential screen culture center.