The finals of the 42nd SPORT MOVIES & TV – Milano International FICTS Fest were held in Milan, Italy, from November 5 to 9. On the evening of November 9, the awards ceremony took place at the Lombardy Region Auditorium in Milan, bringing together nearly 600 sports filmmakers from around the globe to celebrate the unveiling of the festival’s winners. Two Chinese sports films recommended by the Bejing International Sports Film Week (BISFW) stood out: Hi, Asian Games–Female and Invisible Summit each won the prestigious Guirlande d’Honneur, while Football on the Roof and The Karate Source received the Mention d’Honneur. Representatives of the winning productions, Wang Kun, Deputy Secretary-General of the Beijing Olympic City Development Association, and Li Haihong, Deputy Director of the Development Research Department at the Beijing Olympic City Development Center, attended the ceremony to accept the Guirlande d’Honneur awards on behalf of the producers.

　　Award ceremony

The films Hi, Asian Games–Female and Invisible Summit won the Guirlande d’Honneur in the “Olympic Spirit–Paralympics” category. Hi, Asian Games–Female focuses on female athletes at the Hangzhou Asian Games, portraying their perseverance and determination on the field, while showcasing the strength of women's sportsmanship in the new era. Invisible Summit captures climbers' exploration of nature and challenges to personal limits, using stunning visuals and detailed storytelling to illustrate the resilience of the human spirit in extreme environments.

　　Hi, Asian Games–Female

　　and Invisible Summit won the Guirlande d’Honneur

The film Football on the Roof earned the Mention d’Honneur in the “Movies & Football–Feature” category. Set against the backdrop of soccer games on urban rooftops, the film highlights the relentless pursuit of dreams by young people in limited spaces, reflecting the vibrant enthusiasm of contemporary youth for sports in the context of rapid urbanization.

　　Football on the Roof won the Mention d’Honneur

The Karate Source received the Mention d’Honneur in the “Sport and Society” category. The documentary explores the origins of karate, tracing its evolution from “Tang Soo Do” to modern karate and uncovering its historical roots deeply embedded in Chinese culture. By revisiting the martial arts traditions of the Shaolin Temple, the film takes viewers on a journey to the origins of this martial art, showcasing the heritage and development of martial arts culture.

　　The Karate Source won the Mention d’Honneur

During the event, Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), sent a special video message congratulating the 42nd Milano International FICTS Fest Finals.

　　Thomas Bach sent video greetings

At the ceremony, to recognize the significant contributions of 20 regional festivals, including Beijing, FICTS presented the representatives from these events with commemorative scarves in appreciation of their efforts.

　　Presentation of commemorative scarves

During the 42nd Milano International FICTS Fest, a variety of activities were featured. On November 8, the thematic seminar “Promoting Olympic City Development Through Olympic Legacy” was held at the Lombardy Region Government Auditorium in Milan, Italy. The seminar was attended and addressed by notable figures, including Liu Kan, Consul General of China in Milan; Raffaele Cattaneo, Deputy Minister for International and European Relations of the Lombardy Region; Enrico Marcora, Milan City Councilor; Marco Riva, President of the Italian National Olympic Committee for Lombardy; Jacopo Marchetti, Head of Sustainability and Legacy for the Milan Winter Olympics Organizing Committee; Wang Kun, Deputy Secretary-General of the Beijing Olympic City Development Association; and Ding Jun, Deputy Director of the Management Committee of the National Olympic Sports Center. The seminar was chaired by Franco Ascani, President of FICTS, who also delivered the keynote speech.

　　Olympic City Seminar in progress

Additionally, all 15 shortlisted Chinese works were showcased at the Milano International FICTS Fest. Among them, the esports-themed Glory and the female-focused Hi, Asian Games–Female, both inspired by the Hangzhou Asian Games, were featured in special offline screenings. Through these cinematic moments, the diversity and vitality of Chinese sports came vividly to life. These films offered a window into the spirit of sportsmanship, allowing global audiences to experience the pulse of modern Chinese society and its cultural charm.

The event also included a special exhibition celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Beijing International Sports Film Week (BISFW). The retrospective highlighted the film week’s two-decade journey, featuring posters of outstanding works from the Beijing event and Chinese films that have won awards at Milano over the years. Spanning 20 years of achievements, the exhibition showcased the evolution of society and the distinctive charm of Chinese sports culture.

　　20th-anniversary retrospective of the Beijing International Sports Film Week