On the evening of April 16, 2026, the eyes of the global film industry converged on the banks of Yanqi Lake in Huairou, Beijing. Guided by the China Film Administration and hosted by China Media Group (CMG) and the People's Government of Beijing Municipality, the 16th Beijing International Film Festival (BJIFF) grandly opened at the Yanqi Lake International Convention & Exhibition Center. This highly anticipated cinematic spectacle bears the imprint of the BJIFF's 16 years of unwavering growth. Aiming at the forefront of industrial development, it has built a platform for cross-border cultural exchange between China and the world. Amidst the vast river of global cinematic evolution, it writes a new chapter in the vibrant exchange and mutual learning between diverse civilizations.

Yin Li, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Secretary of the Beijing Municipal Committee; Zhang Zheng, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group, Vice Chairman, and Secretary of the Secretariat of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles; Zhang Hongsen, Chairman and Secretary of the Party Leadership Group of the China Writers Association; Yu Junsheng, member of the Party Leadership Group and Vice President of China Media Group (CMG); Chen Xu, President of the China Public Diplomacy Association; Sun Junmin, member of the Standing Committee of the Beijing Municipal Committee and Director-General of the Publicity Department of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee; Zhao Lei, member of the Standing Committee and Secretary-General of the Beijing Municipal Committee; Sima Hong, Vice Mayor of Beijing; and Mao Yu, Executive Deputy Director of the Film Bureau of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, attended the opening ceremony of this year's BJIFF. They were joined by film practitioners, industry guests, and representatives of cinephiles from around the globe to celebrate this grand occasion.

At the opening ceremony, Comrade Yu Junsheng, member of the Party Leadership Group and Vice President of CMG, and Vice Chairman of the 16th BJIFF Organizing Committee, delivered a speech. Comrade Sun Junmin, member of the Standing Committee of the Beijing Municipal Committee, Director-General of the Publicity Department of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee, and Executive Vice Chairman of the 16th BJIFF Organizing Committee, delivered a speech and officially declared the 16th Beijing International Film Festival open. They extended a sincere welcome and best wishes to filmmakers from China and abroad, fully affirming the platform value and industrial significance of the festival. They looked forward to the broad prospects of exchange, mutual learning, and cultural fusion between Chinese and international cinema. Their remarks emphasized using film as a bond to tell China's stories well, promote the high-quality development of the Chinese film industry, and paint a new chapter of prosperity for global cinema.

In the Name of Love: A Cinematic Grand Gala Unveils

The entire opening ceremony centered on the theme of "A Mutual Journey Between the Audience and Cinema". With its ingenious concept and rhythmic flow, the event seamlessly integrated artistic expression, industrial narrative, and public sentiment. Every segment remained true to the original aspiration of "Passion", paying tribute to the eternal charm of the art of film.

Following the opening show, the Opening Ceremony's hosts Li Yangwei, Sun Yang, Ren Luyu, and Tian Wei, alongside film delegates Wong Cho-lam and He Junlin, made a collective appearance to officially commence the core segments of the gala.

A Gathering of Filmmakers: Building a Stage for Dialogue

The International Jury of the 16th BJIFF Tiantan Award 

makes its debut

At the opening ceremony, the heavyweight lineup of the 16th BJIFF Tiantan Award International Jury made a grand appearance. Juliette Binoche, the internationally acclaimed actress and President of this year's Tiantan Award International Jury, took the stage alongside all jury members: Chinese director Bi Gan, French-Vietnamese director Tran Anh Hung, Brazilian director Gabriel Mascaro, British composer Simon Franglen, Chinese actress Zhang Xiaofei, and Chinese actor Zhang Yi. Upholding the principles of professionalism, impartiality, and inclusivity, the jury will join the global audience in witnessing the infinite possibilities of cinematic art.

This year's Tiantan Award has 16 films on its shortlist. These films were chosen from a record-breaking 1,826 entries from 139 countries and regions. Since its inception, the BJIFF Tiantan Award has consistently adhered to an international perspective and a philosophy of diverse aesthetics. By embracing global cinematic masterpieces with an open and equal attitude, it has become a vital window for artistic dialogue between Chinese and international cinema.

The juries for the festival's three main sections made their collective appearances in succession. The BJIFF Shorts jury, led by President Andrew Lau, appeared alongside jurors Liu Yi, Sandra Ma, Qian Zhongyuan, and Zhou You, with Li Naiwen as the Promotion Ambassador. The Project Pitches final jury, headed by President Shu Qi, took the stage with jurors Yin Fang, Larry Yang, Ying Luojia, Shao Yihui, and Dong Zijian, as well as Zhang Ji, the Beijing Film Market Art Director. The Forward Future international jury, headed by President Feng Xiaogang, was joined by jurors Anthony LaMolinara, Iván Fund, Chang Chia-Lu, and Wei Xiang, along with Cya Liu as the Emerging Visionary Recommender and Li Xueqin as the Youth Ambassador. Over the past sixteen years, the BJIFF has consistently cultivated a nurturing system for young filmmakers. From screenplays to short films and feature-length productions, it has built a full-cycle ecological system for young creators, continuously injecting fresh momentum into the Chinese film industry.

A Mutual Journey: Carrying Forward the Original Aspiration of Cinema

The cast & crew of Pegasus 3 won the "Spring Festival Special Honor Film" award

This year's opening ceremony featured three special interactive segments with cinephiles, using real-life stories to illustrate the theme that "the vitality of cinema always stems from its audience". 11-year-old Zhang Ranziyu from Zaozhuang, Shandong, used his Lunar New Year lucky money to invite eight family members and movie-loving friends to watch Pegasus 3 during the Spring Festival. Deeply moved by the spirit of chasing one's passion depicted in the film, he expressed his hope that more people can find their own passion and the strength to move forward through the magic of movies.

The opening ceremony also featured a special recognition ceremony. Presenting guests bestowed the "Spring Festival Special Honor Film" award of the 16th BJIFF upon the cast & crew of Pegasus 3, commending the film for its dual breakthrough in both market performance and social value.

Tan Jianci, the Publicity and Promotion Ambassador of the 16th BJIFF, and Zhou Dongyu, the Global Promoter of the 16th BJIFF, took the stage holding the "Windmill" - the classic emblem of the festival. The seven blades of the windmill symbolize that cinematic art is the world's "Seventh Art". Together, they once again extended a sincere invitation to cinephiles worldwide: "This spring, we have a date with Beijing."

Cinephiles A-Peng and Xiaoniao met, connected, and fell in love at the China Film Archive. The Lovers on the Bridge, a masterpiece starring Juliette Binoche, the Jury President of this year's Tiantan Award, was the very film that witnessed their marriage proposal. At the BJIFF opening ceremony, Juliette Binoche personally presented the couple with a signed poster and her wedding blessings. In return, the newlyweds shared wedding candies with the guests, allowing the beauty of cinematic romance to flow from the silver screen into real life.

Lan Tianqi, Liu Yu, Xia Zhiguang, Yu Yan, 

Zhang Yifan, and Pinky Zhou perform "If There Is a Next Life"

Actor Yosh performed "Ode to the Ideal". Through a powerful melody, the performance conveyed the creative aspirations and industry ideals of young Chinese filmmakers, showcasing the vibrant energy and steadfast conviction of a new generation.

Liu Liangtian, a 63-year-old veteran cinephile from Huairou, Beijing, began his journey with cinema at the age of 16. Over 47 years, he has collected more than 800 copies of Popular Movies magazine. Since 1982, he has consistently cast his votes for the People's Hundred Flowers Awards for 38 years. Having witnessed the evolution of Chinese cinema through half a lifetime, his unwavering dedication perfectly illustrates a common viewer's most enduring love for film.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, singer Liu Yuxin performed the BJIFF promotional song, "Remember When". As the melodious notes faded, the opening ceremony of the 16th BJIFF was successfully completed. This springtime cinematic gala has now officially turned a new page for global filmmakers and millions of cinephiles.

Diversified Layout: Lighting the New Journey for the Industry

Through sixteen years of unwavering dedication, the BJIFF has consistently strove to build a core platform for dialogue and interconnectivity within the global film industry. Deeply rooted in Chinese local creation, the festival uses vivid imagery to broadcast China's voice, allowing the world to understand the nation's cultural depth and contemporary pulse through the silver screen. Simultaneously, it embraces the diverse global creative ecosystem, gathering high-quality cinematic works from around the world to present the rich facets and infinite possibilities of film art to a global audience.

The main activities of this year's festival have been fully upgraded, featuring a series of heavyweight events. The "Beijing Film Panorama" section has meticulously curated approximately 260 outstanding films from around the world, with about 800 screenings scheduled across core commercial cinemas, art-house theaters, and performance venues in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, weaving global masterpieces into the city's spring breeze. The Core Forum Series focuses on industry hotspots, hosting multiple theme forums on pioneering topics such as "New Ecosystem of Film Economy", "Technology Reconstructing the Future", and "Direct Connection Between Creation and Audience". Masterclasses featuring Juliette Binoche, Tran Anh Hung, and Richard Curtis will be held, alongside three open classes on cinematographic exploration, acting practice, and literary adaptation, facilitating deep cross-border dialogues. The "Beijing Film Market" continues its mission of "Exhibition, Promotion, Transaction, and Exchange". It integrates key segments like Project Pitches, the International Lounge, Market Screenings, and Open-Air Cinema, showcasing its unique positioning in supporting new talent, linking global resources, and benefiting the general public. The Beijing Film & Life Festival has launched 10 "Follow the Film to Travel" themed routes, inviting global cinephiles to explore Beijing through the lens of cinema. A series of "Film Plus" cross-disciplinary events will allow cinema to resonate with multi-dimensional arts, polishing Beijing's new calling card as a cultural capital.