2026 BE SEEN Youth Actors Support Program

Date: April 20–24, 2026

Venue: Langyuan

Theme: Real Over Realistic

Content:

In 2026, the second session of the "BE SEEN Youth Actors Support Program" arrives as promised. As the first BJIFF initiative centered around actors, BE SEEN aims to create a dedicated platform for discovering and supporting young Chinese talent. Through a wide-ranging and interconnected network of industry resources, the program aspires to nurture emerging performers, spotlight new voices, and help shape a sustainable future for performance talent development and supply.This year's "BE SEEN Youth Actors Support Program" sets sail on its next voyage with "short dramas" as its vessel. Stage and screen nurture each other; individuals and roles interweave into a curtain. Beneath the light curtain, we reflect the diversity of performers, offering a possibility to all who await the light.

Real over realistic. "In a surging era, be a solid actor. " "Surging" is the momentum of the times; "solid" is our choice. As the short drama industry shifts from "traffic efficiency" to "quality enhancement," audiences no longer settle for simple emotional stimulation—they crave content with emotional value and aesthetic experience. The 2026 BE SEEN Youth Actors Support Program will continue exploring the depths of human nature within the vertical frame, resonating with industry frontiers and engaging in dialogue with authentic performance. We have always believed that true performance fears no change in form—only the loss of authentic weight.

The BE SEEN Program is jointly launched by the China Film Fund, in collaboration with leading film groups including Shanghai Film Group, Changchun Film Group, Xiying Group, and Guangxi Film Group. It is organized by the China Film Fund's Special Fund for Film Performing Arts , with academic support from the Beijing Film Academy and The Central Academy of Drama. Poly Film, Light Chaser Animation, Alibaba Pictures, Youku Technology, iQIYI, Mahua FunAge, Three-Dimensional Pictures, and Hongguo Short Drama serve as first-batch industry supporters. Qiange Law Firm provides legal support, and Judong Culture serves as the in-depth casting partner. Tian Hua, recipient of the "People's Artist" honor, serves as Honorary Advisor. Li Shaohong serves as Jury President, with Wu Gang, Zhao Xiaoding, Yu Baimei, and Wei Qintao joining the final jury panel. 

The BE SEEN Youth Actors Support Program of the 16th Beijing International Film Festival will take place from April 20 to April 24, 2026. Selected young actors will join industry veterans, professional partners and market guests in participating in the BE SEEN Training Camp, industry honors and other events. Through masterclasses in the training camp, the program reshapes the pathway for actor development, polishing the radiance of young performers in the collision of classics and the times, and injecting new vitality into the ecology of the film and television industry.

This year's BE SEEN Training Camp features distinguished industry mentors. Professor Zhang Hua, Artistic Director of the Youth Actors Support Program and professor at Beijing Film Academy, will serve as the Camp Director. Actor Zhou Yiwei will serve as the Annual Mentor, and actor Yu Shaoqun will serve as the Senior of the Year. More powerhouse actors and seasoned industry experts will also join to form the mentoring team, providing professional guidance and industry resources to help young actors shine uniquely in the world of film and television.

On April 24, the BE SEEN Youth Actors Support Program will host an industry honors event. Finalist actors will present their performances, and seasoned industry professionals will share their insights. By creating an efficient dialogue space for the industry, mentors, and young actors, we aim to align outstanding talent with industry needs and ensure more creativity is truly seen.