Chinese film 'Dear You' wins SCO International Film Festival award

Dear You, a Teochew-dialect film produced in China's Guangdong province, won the Best Director award at the 2026 Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) International Film Festival over the weekend.

As a premier cultural exchange event within the SCO framework, this year's festival in Kyrgyzstan brought together film institution representatives and industry professionals from across member states.

The screening of Dear You on Saturday as part of the festival's international competition unit drew a full house. The poignant narrative left many audience members in tears, earning a prolonged standing ovation as the credits rolled. Following the screening, filmmakers from various countries approached director Lan Hongchun to share their praise.

"The core theme I wanted to convey through this film is affection and righteousness," Lan said.

"It is the most grounded and cherished life credo for ordinary Chinese people. Living with kindness and always being grateful to those who have helped you are the exact qualities I saw in my parents and grandparents growing up."

On Sunday, Dear You secured the Best Director award for Lan Hongchun. The jury praised the film's sincere storytelling, authentic performances, and its ability to evoke a shared human resonance that transcends language barriers. This marks the first international film award for both the movie and director Lan.

In addition to the screenings, a Chinese delegation attended the SCO National Film Cooperation Roundtable from July 17 to 18. Participants engaged in candid and in-depth discussions regarding co-productions, market access, and industrial synergy.

During the roundtable, representatives of the Chinese delegation emphasized China's commitment to international cinematic exchanges. They extended an open invitation to global film companies and artists to collaborate with China on film creation, shooting, distribution, and exhibition.