The Shanghai International Film Festival's Premiere Gala unit, as the name suggests, is where the world premieres of the latest films are launched. During the screening, the audience will have the opportunity to interact with the film's creators on the spot. This year's Shanghai International Film Festival's Premiere Gala unit has two heavyweight works selected in terms of both artistic and social significance. The film "The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru" will be the first screening (First Film) of this year's Shanghai International Film Festival to kick off the film festival.

The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru (2023)

The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru

Fang Li

Highlights:

The truth about the sinking of the Lisbon Maru finally comes to light after 82 years

In October 1942, the Japanese armed transport ship "Lisbon Maru" escorting 1,816 Allied prisoners of war traveled from Hong Kong, China to Japan. Because the Japanese army violated the Geneva Convention and did not hang any flags or signs for transporting prisoners of war, the Japanese armed transport ship was hit by a torpedo from a US submarine in the waters of Dongji Island, Zhoushan. At the moment of the shipwreck, the Allied prisoners of war jumped into the sea to escape and were shot and massacred by the Japanese army. Zhoushan fishermen risked their lives to rescue them. This film tells the true story of the joys and sorrows of dozens of Allied prisoners of war families. The film took 7 years to make. Director Fang Li, an expert in marine technology, and his crew visited Britain, the United States, Japan, Australia, Hong Kong, China and Zhoushan to find a lot of information and conduct detailed historical research. This film combines on-site interviews, precious historical images, and animations that restore events to reveal the truth of this historical period that has been lost for 82 years.

Tickets for this year's film festival have been on sale on the Tao Piaopiao platform since June 7.

Note: If the film list changes, please refer to the actual schedule.