15th Beijing International Film Festival
The 2025 Beijing International Film Festival (Chinese: 北京国际电影节), abbreviated BJIFF, marks the 15th edition of the event, celebrating 130 years of world cinema and 120 years of Chinese cinema. Held from April 18 to 26, 2025, in Beijing, China, the festival continues to serve as a platform for international film exchange and industry collaboration.[1][2]
In commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Brazil, this year’s edition invited Switzerland as the guest country.[3]
Key events and highlights
[edit]Tiantan Awards
[edit]The Tiantan Awards remain the festival's most prestigious competition section, recognizing outstanding achievements in filmmaking.[citation needed]
Tiantan Jury
[edit]The Tiantan Awards (Chinese: 天坛奖) jury include six Chinese and international filmmakers.[4]
- Jiang Wen, serving as Jury President
- Joan Chen
- David Yates
- Ni Ni
- Vincent Perez
- Tim Yip
Industry forums
[edit]The festival hosts various industry panels, including discussions on Chinese cinema's global reach, film market strategies, and the future of animation. Experts from Europe, North America, and Asia share insights on international distribution models and cross-cultural storytelling.[5]
Special screenings
[edit]A special screening program commemorated the 80th anniversary of the end of World War 2, and featured films such as The Zone of Interest, Shoah, and The Thin Red Line. The Beijing Film Panorama also showcased classic and contemporary films, including festival premieres and restored masterpieces.[6]
Workshops and Masterclasses
[edit]The Workshop & Masterclass series featured cinematic professionals, including French actress Isabelle Huppert, Chinese director Jia Zhangke, and actor-director Jiang Wen. These sessions provide insights into acting, directing, and film production.[7]
Beijing Film Market
[edit]The Beijing Film Market serves as an incubator for emerging talent and new projects. Initiatives such as the Young Stone Project and the Most Anticipated Young Directors' Works Recommendation Gala aim to support up-and-coming filmmakers.[8]
International presence
[edit]The 2025 festival attracted global film industry leaders, including Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences president Janet Yang, and British director David Yates, known for his work on the Harry Potter series, who both served as part of the Tiantan Award jury.[9]
References
[edit]- ^ "Beijing International Film Festival Home". bjiff.com. Retrieved 2025-04-21.
- ^ Ramachandran, Naman (2025-04-18). "Beijing International Film Festival Marks Triple Milestone With Star-Studded Opening". Variety. Retrieved 2025-04-21.
- ^ "ChinaCultureConnect - Switzerland becomes the guest country of the 15th Beijing Film Festival, and 6 excellent works shine at the "Swiss Film Week"". www.chinacultureconnect.org. Retrieved 2025-04-24.
- ^ "Jiang Wen leads 7-member jury panel for Beijing film festival". china.org.cn. Retrieved 2025-04-22.
- ^ "Industry Forum". bjiff.com. Retrieved 2025-04-22.
- ^ 杨小玉. "Beijing film festival set to feature 900 film screenings". China Daily. Retrieved 2025-04-23.
- ^ Ramachandran, Naman (2025-04-17). "Beijing International Film Festival: A Meeting of Masters and Markets". Variety. Retrieved 2025-04-22.
- ^ "Profile". bjiff.com. Retrieved 2025-04-22.
- ^ Szalai, Georg (2025-03-28). "Beijing Film Fest Unveils Competition Lineup, Jiang Wen to Lead Jury Including Joan Chen, David Yates". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2025-04-22.