City rolls out the red carpet

Beijing can be described in many ways — a historic city of dynasties, a labyrinth of hutong (alleyways) and the home of world-famous landmarks — but there is also a lesser-known side to the capital, one that should not be overlooked by film enthusiasts.

As the birthplace of Chinese cinema 121 years ago, Beijing is once again poised to draw cinephiles. The 16th Beijing International Film Festival, an annual bridge between Chinese and global film communities, will open on April 16, bringing together major stars, emerging technologies and exclusive screenings.

The Tiantan Award, the festival's top honor, will be decided by iconic French actress Juliette Binoche as jury president, along with six jury members; Vietnamese-French director Tran Anh Hung, Chinese filmmaker Bi Gan, English composer Simon Franglen, Brazilian visual artist Gabriel Mascaro, actor Zhang Yi and actress Zhang Xiaofei.

This year, 12 films — including four from China — have been shortlisted from 1,826 feature submissions spanning 139 countries and regions, both record highs. A total of 10 awards, from Best Feature Film to various acting prizes, will be announced at the closing ceremony on April 25.

The Chinese nominees include All the Good Eyes, which traces a decades-long mystery between two families; Being Toward Death, about a caretaker who rediscovers life in a cancer ward; Crossing a Dawn, a romance between a designer and an author; and Embers, an absurd tale sparked by a crematorium operator who mixes up two sets of ashes.

Beyond the main competition, the festival continues to expand its scope. The Forward Future section, focused on discovering emerging global talent, is chaired by director Feng Xiaogang, while the RF Fresh Blood Short Film Program is led by Hong Kong filmmaker Andrew Lau.

"International submissions for the Tiantan Award reached 1,607, accounting for 88 percent of the total. The short film section received 1,212 entries, nearly half from overseas. These figures show the festival's growing global influence," says Huo Zhijing, head of the Beijing Municipal Film Administration and deputy chairman of the festival's organizing committee.

Actress Zhou Dongyu, known for the Oscar-nominated Better Days, will serve as the festival's global promoter, helping foster exchanges between Chinese and international film industries.

For emerging filmmakers, the festival remains a launching pad. A total of 539 projects have applied to the Beijing Film Market section, whose jury is led by Taiwan actress-director Shu Qi, while a training camp for winners will be guided by a team of mentors headed by director Rao Xiaozhi.