China’s prestigious Pingyao International Film Festival is preparing to celebrate a major milestone with its tenth edition scheduled for September 24-30 at the Pingyao Festival Palace in Shanxi Province. Since its founding in 2017 by acclaimed director Jia Zhangke, the festival has established itself as a key platform for emerging cinematic talent across Asia and beyond.
The upcoming event will feature four distinct programming tracks designed to serve different segments of the film industry and creative community. The Screening program comprises three competitive categories: Crouching Tigers, which spotlights debut and early-career works from international filmmakers; Hidden Dragons, dedicated to Chinese-language cinema at similar career stages; and Galas, featuring acclaimed films and festival award winners from around the world.
Filmmakers competing in both Crouching Tigers and Hidden Dragons selections vie for recognition through two major award categories. Winners of the Fei Mu Best Film award receive RMB1 million in prize money, while the Best Director honor comes with RMB200,000. Previous editions have successfully launched the careers of notable directors including Chloé Zhao, Wei Shujun and Liu Jian, establishing the festival’s reputation for identifying promising filmmaking talent before achieving international prominence.
Beyond its screening components, the festival incorporates Market, Cultivation and Academics programs to provide comprehensive support for filmmakers, industry professionals and film scholars.
Originally reported by Variety →
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