The jury comprises Juliette Binoche, Bi Gan, Tran Anh Hung, Gabriel Mascaro, Simon Franglen, Zhang Xiaofei, and Zhang Yi.

The Tiantan Award jury for the main competition at the 16th Beijing International Film Festival brings both a global perspective and serious artistic depth. French screen legend Juliette Binoche chairs the jury, joined by an international lineup including Chinese director Bi Gan, French-Vietnamese filmmaker Tran Anh Hung, Brazilian director Gabriel Mascaro, acclaimed British composer Simon Franglen, alongside Chinese actress Zhang Xiaofei and Chinese actor Zhang Yi.

The submissions for this year's Tiantan Award—1,826 films from 139 countries, 88% (1,607) abroad—underscore the worldwide appeal and inclusive selection of BJIFF. So far, 12 films have been shortlisted for the "Tiantan Award", with 4 from China and 8 from overseas.

The first round of nominees are:

China: All the Good Eyes

France: At Work

China: Being Toward Death

China: Crossing A Dawn

UK: Dragonfly

China: Embers

Brazil/France: Isabel

Vietnam: Ky Nam Inn

Georgia/Estonia/Turkey: Supporting Role

Malaysia/Indonesia: The Fox King

Italy/Spain: Three Goodbyes

France: You Found Me

The international jury of the Tiantan Award will select ten awards from the shortlisted films, including Best Feature Film, Best Director, Best Artistic Contribution, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, and Best Music. The winners will be announced at the Closing & Awards Ceremony on April 25.

Acclaimed Chinese actress Zhou Dongyu has been named the festival's first-ever Global Promoter. Returning to BJIFF in this new capacity, she will leverage her global presence to foster dialogue between Chinese and international cinema, and offer the world a vivid sense of the festival's artistic character and global vision.

This year's BJIFF opens on April 16 at Yanqi Lake International Convention and Exhibition Center. This year, the opening ceremony will put the spotlight on devoted fans of Chinese cinema: families who enjoy Spring Festival releases together, and couples whose love stories began in cinemas. At the ceremony, classic on-screen couples from different generations will reunite to recreate the unforgettable moments and iconic lines etched in our memories. Adding to the anticipation, a filmmaker-only rock band will take the stage for a special opening performance. Tan Jianci and Zhou Dongyu, both audience favorites, will appear at BJIFF in entirely new roles. Attendees will be treated to AI-crafted spectacles, like dreamlike interactions, creative crossovers, and faithful recreations of beloved film moments.

The centerpiece of this year's BJIFF opening will be the historic meeting of the Tiantan Award and the Hundred Flowers Awards. Zhu Xijuan, the inaugural Best Actress of the People's Hundred Flowers Awards, and Niu Ben, the record-holding Best Supporting Actor, two highly respected veteran screen partners, will come together for a classic reunion. The ceremony will also bring together filmmakers with deep ties to both the Hundred Flowers Awards and Tiantan Award. They will witness a highly anticipated cinematic moment as the Tiantan and Hundred Flowers "goddesses" meet on the big screen.

"Beijing Film Panorama" section promises a grand cinematic experience this year by carefully selecting about 260 top films from around the world and bringing them to roughly 800 showings across commercial cinemas, art theaters, and cultural venues throughout the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. Emphasizing both international vision and curated excellence, the screening continues the tradition of its classic sections while launching new themes. With an optimized structure, it seeks to offer a rich, multifaceted lineup blending artistic sophistication and modern sensibilities, so every viewer can discover their own cinematic moment of inspiration.

Audiences will catch the earliest screenings of the official selection of Tiantan Award, and the complete slate of Forward Future and BJIFF Shorts. As part of the "Special Screenings" section, a dedicated retrospective will celebrate the legendary actress Juliette Binoche, Jury President of the Tiantan Award, with key films from her career, including multiple titles making their Beijing debut. Festivalgoers can look forward to the "Premieres" section, which highlights a series of anticipated new works and provides a unique chance to interact with their creators. This year's "Filmmaker in Focus" section highlights Paul Thomas Anderson, a leading figure in modern cinema, with screenings of six of his most celebrated films. The "Retrospective" section presents three heavyweight filmmaker-themed programs, including Werner Herzog's career retrospective, an exploration of the creative collaboration between Hungarian director Béla Tarr and writer László Krasznahorkai, and a special showcase of the Tim Burton–Johnny Depp on-screen partnership.

To welcome more cinephiles to this cinematic celebration, the screenings will continue to collaborate with theaters across Tianjin and Hebei, further strengthening the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei regional synergy. The festival has also added two large-capacity halls in Beijing, the Youth Palace and Chaoyang Theater, both seating over 600, to provide attendees with easier access to tickets and a more enjoyable experience.

The "Boundless ∞ Immersive" Section, Beijing Film Panorama's most forward-looking segment focused on immersive cinema, highlights the latest developments in VR filmmaking worldwide, once again featuring actor Huang Bo as its guest curator. Over 50 selections use VR, AR, MR, CAVE, panoramic screen, and interactive immersive setups, to offer cinephiles at Langyuan Station a direct, hands-on view of global immersive storytelling. By showcasing domestic and international films side by side, the festival aims to spark a rich dialogue between homegrown artistry and global technological innovation. The newly curated "Virtual Reality Film Competition Unit" will showcase a selection of registered, not-yet-commercially-released standouts, to recognize their excellence in artistic expression and technical execution while driving industry innovation.

Members of the jury for this unit include the chair Huo Tingxiao, a National First-Class Artist and Vice President of China Film Association as well as President of China Film Art Direction Academy; Zheng Dasheng, President of Shanghai Film Association and Vice President of China Film Directors' Guild; Chen Liaoyu, animation director and professor at Beijing Film Academy; Zhu Feng, internationally renowned creative director; and Li Shuai, Visual Effects Director at MOREVFX.

This year's BJIFF keeps a close eye on cutting-edge film technologies, with a focus on AIGC imaging and a showcase of the latest industry developments.

BJIFF's AIGC Film Section, the first of its kind globally to focus on AI and cinematic co-creation, has developed since 2024 from a pioneering experiment into a major international platform for AI-driven film artistry. This year's AIGC Film Section features three competitive categories: Feature Films, Short Films, and AI Series, designed to align evaluation criteria with the specific creative formats and industry development needs.

The advisory team includes Chief Advisor Chen Xi (stage name: Chen Zhixi), Chairman of Wanda Film; Honorary Advisor Wang Jinkang; Honorary Chair of the Jury Liu Cixin; and Technical Advisor Liu Yu, Wan Algorithm researcher at Tongyi Lab. The final jury is chaired by director Stanley Tong, with members including director Yu Baimei; Oscar-winning documentary filmmaker Ruby Yang; Sun Zhonghuai, Vice President of Tencent and Chairman of Tencent Video; and Vincent Lowy, professor at the University of Lorraine (formerly Nancy University) and former President of the ENS Louis-Lumière.

For the first time, the Tongyi "Wan Muse plus" themed competition will showcase how the Wan model can be applied to cinematic-level content creation. Using a multi-faceted evaluation process, the competition inspires AI creativity and deepen the fusion of technology and art.

This year, BJIFF's Game-Based Animated Films Section unveils two groundbreaking firsts:

1. For the first time, BJIFF presents the AIGC Game IP Short Film Competition, in collaboration with JD.com and Baidu, introducing popular national game IPs and pioneering the fusion of cinema, gaming, and cutting-edge tech. The festival will kick off its AIGC Feature Film Project Pitches, targeting at least 50 projects per year to support the creation, production, and distribution of AIGC feature film projects. The final jury for the Baidu · AIGC Future Creation League S3 includes director, screenwriter, and producer Lu Chuan; Wang Xiaolin, Vice Chair of China Science Writers Association; Lin Yongmin, founder of Global Game Art Contest (GGAC); Dong Yifu, Art Director of miHoYo's Genshin Impact and expert in game animation; and Xue Su, Vice President of Baidu.

2. The festival debuts its inaugural Animation & E-Sports Carnival, focused on ACG culture, at Xianglong·Baicanghui in Chaoyang District. Through themed IP exhibits, cast & crew meeting, and interactive experiences, it attracts young audiences, sparks public participation, and energizes consumer activity, bringing a new vibrancy to BJIFF.

Fully revamped for this edition, the BJIFF Core Forums build on three strategic pillars: industry, creativity, and technology, to provide a high-caliber platform for policy briefings, report launches, and project promotion. Informed by this year's Spring Festival market performance and trending topics, three core forums will deliver precise industry insights, ensuring forward-looking and influential content. For the first time, the Creation Forum features a "dual protagonists" dialogue, bringing audiences face-to-face with creators and celebrating the philosophy that cinema and viewers are inseparable. The Tech Forum will host in-depth conversations with representatives from leading AI video large model companies.  

Four specialized forums include Investment & Financing Forum, Film Capital Forum, Young Filmmakers Forum, and Young Film Critics Forum.

Across Masterclasses and Open Classes, some of the world's top filmmakers and cultural figures come together to offer the industry a feast of ideas and artistic inspiration. Jury President Juliette Binoche leads exclusive conversations with young directors, sharing insights into the creative process; Richard Curtis, the celebrated British writer, arrives with international vision to connect Chinese and global cinema; Tran Anh Hung, French-Vietnamese filmmaker, offers a unique Eastern aesthetic, adding poetic resonance and quiet strength to discussions.

Equally impressive, open class on Film Literature blends critical thought with narrative art, using film as a lens on society and culture. In the cinematography open class, acclaimed DPs sit down with high-profile digital creators, exploring how traditional techniques and new visual trends intersect. The acting class explores film, TV, and short-form storytelling through candid conversations that reveal the human connection at the core of performance. Across three sections and three lenses, the conversation continues, carrying the resonance of film beyond the theater.

This year also pushes forward the "Next Frame Space" brand. The Project Pitches Training Camp is now pairing emerging filmmakers with theater-level actors early in the process, giving projects a stronger performance foundation and a clearer path to market readiness.

Building on its growing international network, BJIFF is stepping up global industry connections. The upgraded International Lounge will bring together hundreds of filmmakers and companies from around the world, including major players like Mega Films, ND GROUPE M6, Rai Cinema, and GDH 559, as well as programmers from leading festivals such as Locarno Film Festival, International Film Festival Rotterdam, and Warsaw Film Festival. A newly launched International Film Copyright Pitching Session will create a more direct and efficient channel for copyright trading and cross-border partnerships.

At this year's festival, the "Lightboat Project"—a new initiative aimed at taking Chinese-language films global—officially gets underway. It is the festival's first coordinated push to promote these films overseas. A curated catalog of 65 feature films with strong international potential will be presented during the festival and directly shared with global distributors, programmers, and other industry players open to collaboration. The Beijing Market will also host a dedicated "Lightboat Project · Chinese-Language Film Presentation", at which these projects are introduced to buyers from around the world. The idea is to give Chinese-language films a focused platform to present their stories, highlight what makes them distinct, and connect with international audiences in a more flexible, meaningful way.

The "Forward Future" section focuses on first and second features from new directors worldwide, bringing together films from over ten countries across five continents. It also highlights a new wave of original voices from China. The selected films span a wide range of themes, reflecting how younger filmmakers are engaging with contemporary life from every angle with keenest senses. All international entries are either world or international premieres—and all are debut features—offering rare first looks for audiences in Beijing.

The International Jury of Forward Future is chaired by director, writer, and actor Feng Xiaogang, joined by American filmmaker and VFX artist Anthony LaMolinara, Argentine director Iván Fund, Chinese actor Wei Xiang, and Taiwan-based screenwriter and producer Chang Chia-lu. They will select seven honors from the final selection of films: Most Popular Feature Picture, Most Popular Director, Most Popular Screenplay, Most Popular Actress, Most Popular Actor, Most Popular Artistic Contribution and Jury Special Mention. Chinese Actress Li Xueqin will be the section's Youth Ambassador.

The BJIFF Shorts section returns with a refreshed identity, positioning itself as a launchpad for Chinese-language commercial genre film. Its goal is simple: help new creators break into the industry and keep fresh ideas flowing into the market. Since submissions opened, the section has received 1,212 entries, including 525 international and 687 domestic films, organized into international screenings and a domestic competition.

The Shorts Jury includes director, cinematographer, and producer Andrew Lau from Hong Kong, China; screenwriter and Vice President of the China Film and Literature Society Liu Yi; actress Sandra Ma and actor Zhou You; and producer Qian Zhongyuan. Actor Li Naiwen will be as the Promotion Ambassador.

Bosideng supports the festival's cross-industry programming with professional wardrobe, helping bring together a wide range of experiences, from culturally rooted storytelling to emerging voices, and from on-screen narratives to style-driven everyday life, each perspective adding to a richer, more dynamic whole. Versace returns as the official designated high-end fashion brand partner of the 16th Beijing International Film Festival, reaffirming its ongoing collaboration with the event and its commitment to artistic excellence and cultural expression, while celebrating the continued rise of both Chinese and international cinema.

The NEWHER at this year's Beijing International Film Festival is stepping up its efforts to energize the film market and inject fresh vitality into the industry. Its workshops and feature film support programs have been fully upgraded. Five emerging directors were selected for the workshop, and under the dedicated guidance of five Production Mentors—Tian Tian, Sabrina Fan, Luca Liang, Alina Zhang, and Li Yaping—they successfully developed concept reels for five concept films. From the overall feature film support program, 20 projects were shortlisted by the jury and will now present their final pitches to industry mentors and representatives from film companies. Renowned Chinese director Li Shaohong serves as the section's Initiator and Masterclass Mentor, with young actress Lan Xiya invited as the Youth Promotion Ambassador. Final evaluations will be conducted by judges including Jiao Xiongpeng, Liang Jing, Hai Qing, Qin Haiyan, Jessica Chen, and Liu Ruifang, ultimately recognizing the top three NEWHER projects and honoring their directors.

During the BIFF 2025, the Beijing Film & Life Festival makes its debut, showing how even a small "ticket stub" can spark citywide consumption. This year, the festival will expand the reach of Beijing Film & Life Festival, inviting visitors from Beijing, across China, and around the world to enjoy films and springtime experiences, while offering locals and tourists more accessible cultural perks and lifestyle conveniences.

For the first time, BIFF will launch Ultra-Live, broadcasting the festival's opening and closing ceremonies, red carpets, galas, and other events live on giant screens across key commercial areas, including SOLANA in Chaoyang District, the China National Film Museum, MixC One in Tongzhou District, WellTown, Longfu Temple, and Langyuan Park. These locations will host star meet-and-greets, fan clubs, and outdoor cinema, allowing the public to fully immerse themselves in the festival's energy and excitement.

From grand festivals to hidden alleyways, bustling shopping centers to serene canal waters, citywide celebration of film is taking over every corner of Beijing. The city will come alive with cinematic culture, inviting locals to dive into a full-on cinematic experience.

During the festival, audiences can enjoy immersive "Follow the Film to Savor Cuisine" online, sampling the flavors of the city as if following the storylines of their favorite movies. In Dongcheng District, shoppers can enjoy special deals and themed experiences across five prime shopping hubs: Longfu Temple, Qianmen, Wangfujing, Chongwenmen, and Dongzhimen. Thanks to coordinated promotions with top retailers, shoppers will savor the city's offerings with just one pass. In Tongzhou District, the magic of cinema connects key spots like WellTown, Shoukai Tongzhou MixC One, Moon River Town, and Tongzhou Wanda Plaza. Visitors can explore themed markets, watch films, and meet stars. Through interactive ticket-based experiences, the city becomes a "Film Plus" hub where people can dine, play, admire, and shop in one go. Overall, the Beijing Film & Life Festival spans 17 districts, over 50 commercial hubs, and more than 600 participating businesses.

Festival-goers can "Follow the Film to Travel", exploring locations where iconic movies were shot. Ten curated itineraries highlight Beijing's cinematic landmarks, from urban sets to creative parks and scenic landscapes, offering a fully immersive cultural and travel experience. Themes range from tracing the roots of classic films in Qianmen Dashilar, checking in at iconic spots along the city's central axis, behind-the-scenes explorations at Huairou Film Capital, romantic city walks east of the Forbidden City, meditative village visits in Mentougou, to Great Wall shoots at Beijing Wtown. The routes also connect active filming hubs like Langyuan and Donglang, letting fans and visitors relive memorable scenes while soaking in Beijing's history and cinematic charm. In Chaoyang District, visitors can navigate customized guides such as the "Chaoyang Food Map", "Chaoyang Cultural & Travel Map", and "Chaoyang Flower Map", along with five distinct themed routes. These itineraries seamlessly link local cuisine, spring scenery, and trendy attractions, giving fans and travelers an easy, one-stop way to experience the district's seasonal highlights and cultural vibrancy. Dongcheng District draws inspiration from recent hit films, presenting seven "Film Plus" themed series that connect landmarks like Sanlihe Park (echoing old Beijing in My Memories of Old Beijing), Wudaoying Hutong (frequent backdrop for urban romances), Xizongbu Hutong (Crossing A Dawn filming location), Red Building of Peking University (revolutionary-era sets), and Bell & Drum Towers (classic period drama sites). These spots feature "same-angle" immersive photo opportunities, creating fresh cultural experiences for visitors. Xicheng District offers five cinematic itineraries of "Follow the Film to Travel", encouraging fans, travel influencers, and media groups to explore, document, and share their experiences through short videos. Tongzhou District brings cinema to the Grand Canal with a sparkling "Red Carpet on Water" launch, kicking off "Canal Awakening Week" with water-based performances and heritage boat tours, blending art and light to revitalize the canal's waterfront.

After filling up on food and drink, festival-goers can dive into the "Follow the Film to Explore the Market" lifestyle markets, where movies meet everyday life. At Langyuan Station, visitors can explore the "Frame Spark Youth Market", a market centered on cinematic lifestyle and arts, alongside the "Filmmakers' Movie Bazaar", where interactive stalls might even feature actors fans have been hoping to meet. Over 30 cultural institutions are showcasing Beijing's intangible cultural heritage (ICH), offering the Movie Bazaar this year's most popular creative products, and hosting unique exchanges in "Old Treasures, New Life" pop-ups. Capital Culture Technology Group is bringing a series of film-themed experiences to multiple stores—Wukesong, Maliandao, Ciyunsi, and Xihongmen—including citywide cinema hunts, seasonal gift bags, collaborative "light and shadow" events, and interactive movie-based activities. In Fengtai District, the "Changxin Cinema Carnival" blends screenings, immersive light-and-shadow displays, and "ticket stub perks" with local merchants. Festival-goers can enjoy movie-festival-exclusive combos, with May Day specials, handcrafted ICH products, local snacks, and trendy light bites delivering a unified experience where visitors can enjoy films, grab a bite, and shop—all in one place. Shijingshan District hosts the "Hobby & Pet Fun Fair", featuring three core experiences: 20+ top shops in Langyuan Park offer festival discounts tied to ticket stubs, Shougang Park hosts the "Old Books, New Knowledge" film caravan bazaar, and there's an interactive "'Filmmakers' Fun Run". Huairou District is centering its activities around a Film Carnival, with over 20 performances and events, including the Senior Arts Gala, ICH Arts Showcase, Traditional Music Festival, and a Time-Travel-Inspired Music Rave. The festival's Game-Based Animated Films Section brings character parades, cosplay dance performances, and stage shows for anime enthusiasts. In Daxing District, Livat becomes the stage for "Endless Treasures: Cultural Rhythms and Cinematic Landscapes", featuring a curated "Follow the Film to Read Good Books" reading list. The market gathers 30 top museums nationwide, including the Gansu Provincial Museum and the Potala Palace, ten Beijing-based publishers, local cultural enterprises, and connects ICH inheritors, industry experts, and creative influencers. Using the market as a platform, it forges powerful cultural collaborations while driving the integration of commerce, tourism, arts, and culture.

April in Beijing is spring at its most radiant, and the city invites locals and visitors alike to "follow the films and follow the blooms". From wildflower festivals at the Great Wall's foot to cinema screenings tucked inside historic hutongs, from riverside light shows along Liangma River to jungle-themed screenings in Sixth Ring High Line Park—this April, Beijing will showcase its springtime beauty, offering a seamless blend of movies, gardens, and cultural explorations, creating an immersive rendezvous between film and the season.

This year's festival also partners with innovative cinema spaces. At Mirra Wonderland Party Hall in Wukesong, 798 Hyper Vision ·VR Cinema, and twelve other "cinema new spaces", visitors can enjoy VR screenings, live performances, and a variety of interactive experiences that push the boundaries of traditional moviegoing.

As part of the Beijing Film & Life Festival, Beijing's Cultural Consumption Promotion Fund is launching the "Spring Affordable Film Screenings", investing 5 million yuan to support ticket purchases and related cultural spending. Subsidies will make screenings more accessible and encourage follow-up consumption. Ticket stubs, alongside entry passes for simultaneous events like the "National Reading Season" or spring book fairs, will unlock additional discounts, extending all benefits through the May Day holiday.

This year, the festival introduces a public support program for local small and micro businesses. Leveraging the Beijing International Film Festival's cultural influence, Beijing Radio & Television Station (BRTV) provides participating businesses with zero-cost, high-value opportunities for brand exposure, to help them grow. This is a concrete example of BRTV fulfilling its social responsibility as a media organization while supporting local businesses.

Registration is completely free and open to qualified Beijing-based small and micro businesses. Over 300 businesses have already signed up, and the registration period has been extended through April 31. After registration closes, BRTV will host a live draw on the "Btime" livestream, with an official Beijing notary overseeing the selection of 16 companies at random. These enterprises will receive a four-part benefit package from the 16th Beijing International Film Festival: red-carpet brand exposure, a personalized ID recording aired on BRTV, a charity livestream hosted by festival celebrity guests, and the official "Public Welfare Supporting Enterprise of the 16th Beijing International Film Festival" designation.

BRTV covers all production and promotion costs, ensuring that the selected small and micro businesses enjoy the full benefits of a premier cultural IP at zero cost, while raising public awareness of the city's entrepreneurial landscape. The initiative also signals BRTV's ongoing commitment to building high-quality platforms that support Beijing's market ecosystem.

April in Beijing is a meeting of light and shadow. The Beijing International Film Festival is more than a cinematic showcase—it is a dialogue between a city and its stories, a resonance between Chinese cinema and global culture. The "twin festival" honors illuminate Beijing in cinematic glory, while the Beijing Film & Life Festival draws worldwide attention, offering a glimpse into the city's culture, lifestyle, and creativity behind the silver screen.

This spring of 2026, from the climactic Tiantan Award to immersive screenings, from cutting-edge VR experiences to thought-provoking forums, from Project Pitches to citywide "ticket stub economy" activations, Beijing invites the world to a celebration of dreams, creativity, and the future, in which cinema becomes the language of possibility.