Shanghai International Film Festival draws large crowds

The 23rd Shanghai International Film Festival came to a close on Aug 2 after attracting some 147,502 cinemagoers despite strict virus prevention and control measures.

From Jul 25 to Aug 2, the festival presented 322 films, 232 of which premiered in China. According to the municipal pandemic containment measurements, the festival mandated that all cinemas open only 30 percent of their seats to audiences and screen no more than four films per day.

To deal with this situation, the festival introduced online streaming shows as well as outdoor projections in seven commercial centers and 36 residential communities.

While the festival cancelled its celebrated red carpet ceremony, it held the China Movie and TV Night at the Shanghai International Media Port, bringing together industry leaders who shared their confidence in China’s film and TV industries.

A series of forums, workshops and summits, which took place online and offline during the festival, were attended by renowned directors, scriptwriters and film producers from around the world, including Jia Zhangke, James Schamus, Olivier Assayas, Naomi Kawase, Lav Diaz and Denis Villeneuve.