Shanghai SIFF Project 2026: Full Line-Up

SIFF Project, the projects market of Shanghai International Film Festival, has selected 31 projects across five categories for its 2026 edition.

The five categories include four New Talent Projects, five Genre Projects, three Co-production Projects, nine Projects in Development and ten Work-in-Progress (WIP) Projects.

This year’s SIFF Project Committee, which will offer expert guidance througout the event, is headed by director and actress Joan Chen and also includes actress Ma Yili and filmmaker Sam Quah.

SIFF Project received 560 submissions this year, marking a slight year-on-year increase, among which 511 were script-based projects and 49 were works-in-progress. In terms of genre, family and romance stories accounted for 26% of total applications, followed by comedy (25%), thriller (22%) and youth stories (17%).

Launched in 2025, the Genre Project section drew 169 submissions this year, surging by 144% year-over-year and accounting for 38% of all applications.

SIFF Project organisers explained that the selected projects “showcase diverse themes and stylistic approaches, ranging from realistic explorations of intergenerational experiences and contemporary social realities to philosophical inquiries into artificial intelligence in the contemporary era.

“The lineup also features distinctive aesthetic expressions rooted in the Wei and Jin dynasties, as well as innovative reinterpretations of traditional storytelling.”

In addition to projects from emerging filmmakers, the selection includes new projects from established directors including Sun Aoqian, Jigme Trinley, You Xing, Jia Shengfeng, Qiao Sixue and Zhang Li.

Founded in 2007, SIFF Project forms part of the festival’s wide-ranging ecosystem for Chinese-language filmmakers. Many selected creators previously participated in SIFF Project Lab or were selected for SIFF’s Golden Goblet Awards competition and screening sections. Four WIP 2026 selections – Two Time Zones, There Will Be Snow, Wintertime In A Small Town and Winter Pasture – were previously developed through SIFF Project at the script stage.

SIFF Project is taking place June 13-16 during Shanghai International Film Festival, which is running June 12-21.

SHANGHAI FILM FESTIVAL SIFF PROJECT 2026:

NEW TALENT PROJECT:

Shortcut To Life
Director: Wang Yucheng
Producer: Sun Yuqi
Screenwriter: Lin Li, Wang Yucheng

Vestiges
Director & Screenwriter: Kio Qiu
Producer: Lexie Zhao, Haina Zhou

A Room Of Her Own
Director: Kaia Gao
Producer: Wang Jing
Screenwriter: Kaia Gao, Guang Yuzhu

Beautiful Mess
Director & Screenwriter: Eleanor Wang
Producer: Chen Lizhi, Shirley He

GENRE PROJECT:

Hotel Sandman
Director: Wang Weiming
Executive Producer: Ma Tientsung
Producer: Ma Tientsung, Juan Peiyun
Screenwriter: Wang Kuokuang

Eternal Night
Director: Long Lingyun
Producer: Li Ling
Screenwriter: Long Lingyun, Wang Xuebing

Don’t Move, Mom!
Director: Wu Boping
Producer: Zhao Tenfei
Screenwriter: Zhou Man, Wu Boping

Eternal Homeland
Director: Sun Aoqian
Producer: Xin Ming
Screenwriter: Sun Aoqian, Du Tianxiao

Murder Television
Director & Screenwriter: Jigme Trinley
Producer: Wang Lei

CO-PRODUCTION PROJECT:

Pelican Year
Director & Screenwriter: Zhang Yichuan
Producer: Yinx Zhou

Starfruit
Director & Executive Producer: Low Ngaiyuen
Producer: Lylatul Qadrina Mohd Yusman
Screenwriter: Lim Boonsiang

Only The Moon Knows
Director & Screenwriter: Juno Hong
Producer: Li Qianhui

PRE-PRODUCTION PROJECT:

The Path To Forgiveness
Director & Screenwriter: Tong Yun

Whale, Surfboard And The Water-Averse Me
Director & Screenwriter: Chang Xin

My Bestie Is A Ghost
Director & Screenwriter: Deng Qiaoshan

Nutshell
Director & Screenwriter: Lin Li
Producer: Yu Xiaofeng

This Timeworn Land
Director & Screenwriter :You Xing
Producer: Qiao Yanmai, Hu Mengchu, Zheng Yue

I’m So...Sorry
Director: Tomos Liu
Screenwriter: Wang Huan
Producer: Hannah Lau

The Boatman’s Weave
Director & Screenwriter: Ka Singfung
Producer: Chang Sukping

Mum
Director: Zhou Jizhi
Screenwriter: Zhou Jizhi, Xu Hao
Producer: Zhu Jiayi

Like Her
Director & Screenwriter: Qiao Sixue
Producer: Qi Ai

WORK IN PROGRESS PROJECT:

Ragtag
Director: Huang Yucong
Producer: Morton Shen
Screenwriter: Huang Yucong, Zou Tong

Dancing Villain
Director & Screenwriter: Pu Wei
Producer: Pu Wei, Xu Ruijing

Two Time Zones
Director & Screenwriter: Gao Ming
Executive Producer: Zhang Lü, Chen Lizhi
Producer: Wang Lei, Li Qinlu

Grow Up
Director: Tony Gao
Executive Producer: Zhu Yuheng
Screenwriter: Tony Gao, Zhao Fanyi, Zhu Yuheng

Outside The Room Of My Own
Director: Yan Siyu
Producer: Peng Jin, Li Yifan, Xu Xiao
Screenwriter: Yan Siyu, Cao Shenkun

There Will Be Snow
Director & Screenwriter: Chen Jianying
Producer: Li Xiaoyuan
Co-Screenwriter: Kong Lizhi

Wintertime In A Small Town
Director: Wu Chu, Gao Xiangyu
Executive Producer: Wang Hongwei
Producer: Qian Yini
Screenwriter: Gao Xiangyu ,Wu Chu

The Reunion
Director & Screenwriter: Zhang Li
Producer: Yuan Yuan

A Thousand Stars In The Galactic Night
Director & Screenwriter: Shu Hui
Executive Producer: Wang Hongwei
Producer: Lv Hang

Winter Pasture
Director & Screenwriter: Song Kunru
Producer: Peter Chen, Zhang Zhiwei