The 8th Pingyao International Film Festival announced its official selection on September 5, showcasing outstanding films from 22 countries and regions, including China, France, Portugal, Brazil, Uruguay, Italy, Mexico, Japan, Argentina, Colombia, Denmark, and the United States. These films will be screened later this month at the Pingyao Film Palace, located in the ancient city of Pingyao, Shanxi (for the complete screening list, please see the end of the article). The festival will take place from September 24 to September 30.
The Pingyao International Film Festival was founded in 2017 by renowned director Jia Zhangke, under the theme “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” focusing on new and emerging Chinese works. The festival aims to promote cultural exchange in cinema and provide a platform for young filmmakers, attracting participation from internationally acclaimed filmmakers as well.
This year's official screening section features a dazzling array of films, encompassing various themes and styles. Among the films selected, 44.7% will have their world premiere, 50% will have their international premiere, 73.7% will debut in Asia, and 89.5% will be making their debut in China, with a 100% premiere rate for mainland China films. Eight of the nominated films are first feature-length works by new directors.
Official poster for the 8th Pingyao International Film Festival
New Films from China and Abroad Showcase Diverse Creative Expressions
The competition section named “Crouching Tiger” presents a variety of creative styles and profound cultural concerns.
In the “Crouching Tiger” section focusing on the growth of new Chinese directors, Zhao Quan's film “Minor Characters” stars Zhang Yu, Xin Baiqing, Liu Yan, and Jiang Zhuojun, depicting an inspiring family story centered around a high school teacher.
Xiao Guanhao's debut work “Fleeting Years,” produced by Chen Guo and featuring Yethong and Xie Junhao, explores themes of true love and family.
Directed by Liu Juan and featuring Wang Yanhui, Deng Enxi, Yang Haoyu, Wang Qiang, and Lü Xingchen, “Anger River” narrates a tale of loss, pursuit, and forgiveness and serves as the opening film for this year’s festival.
Opening film “Anger River”
Additionally, there are several entries, including Shen Tao's debut film “Wandering Woman,” Yang Yuanyuan's first feature documentary “Women’s World,” Yang Suiyi's debut film “Karst,” Zhu Xin's documentary “Under Phoenix Mountain: Lyrics,” Wang Lina's latest work “Village: Music,” and Ma Lanhua's first film “Don't Take Essays Too Seriously.”
From the new directors' works, we can see a wide range of social issues addressed in this year’s Chinese films, such as gender equality, environmental protection, and cultural heritage, demonstrating an in-depth exploration of diverse cultures, societal problems, personal growth, and artistic creation.
The “Hidden Dragon” section gathers outstanding works from around the world, including —
Sora Sakamoto's second directorial work "Perfect Ending," which was nominated in the Horizons section of the 2024 Venice Film Festival;
“The Story of Suleiman,” which won the Jury Prize and Best Actor at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival’s Un Certain Regard section;
“Sparrows in the Chimney,” directed by Ramon Quiroshell, which was nominated for the main competition section at the 2024 Locarno Film Festival;
“That Summer with Erin,” directed by Carlo Cironi, nominated in the Generation section of the 2024 Berlin International Film Festival;
“I See Three Black Lights,” directed by Santiago Lozano Alvarez, which was nominated in the Panorama section of the 2024 Berlin Film Festival;
“A Shared Language,” directed by Matthew Rankin, which won the Audience Award at the Cannes Directors' Fortnight this year;
“Sukho,” which won the Jury Award in the World Narrative Competition at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival;
And three films nominated for the Cannes Directors' Fortnight in 2024: "Grasslands and Mountains" directed by Paulo Carneiro, "Old Stuff, New Stuff, Borrowed Stuff" directed by Hernan Roselli, and "Christmas Eve at Miller's Point" directed by Tyler Taormina, all of which will converge in Pingyao for cinephiles to enjoy.
Festival artistic director Lin Xudong stated: “The authors of the films in this year's official screening section include some masters who are prominent on the international film scene, but more importantly, there are many emerging talents whose works provide a multi-faceted expression of our complex, ever-changing contemporary life through keen observation and bold techniques.”
Additionally, the “Premieres” section focuses on important annual works from leading directors, showcasing films such as:
“Bordeaux Prisoners,” directed by Patricia Mazuy and starring Isabelle Huppert and Hafsia Herzi, the opening film of the 2024 Cannes Directors' Fortnight;
“The Cursed,” directed by Roberto Minervini, which received the Best Director award in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival;
“There’s Tomorrow,” directed by Paola Cortalezi, which has won six awards at the 69th Italian David di Donatello, including Best New Director, Best Original Screenplay, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress, the Youth David Award, and the Audience Award;
“Breakup Party,” directed by Jonas Trueba, which was nominated for the 2024 Cannes Directors' Fortnight;
“My Sunshine,” directed by Okuyama Taishi, nominated in the Un Certain Regard section of the 2024 Cannes Film Festival.
This section will also feature two documentaries: “New Year” by Yang Fan, who won the Best Screenplay Award at the Venice Film Festival, and “Black Box Diary” directed by Ito Shiori, which was nominated for the World Documentary section at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival.
The “Starting from Shanxi” section focuses on works by filmmakers from Shanxi, films produced by Shanxi film companies, films shot in Shanxi, or films set against the backdrop of Shanxi. Featured films include —
“Flowing Water on Fenhe River” by Hao Yun, a documentary recording the lives and work of ordinary people along the river;
“Gentle” directed by Li Jiaxi, which explores the circumstances faced by women in the film industry;
“Silver Yarn Mountain Villa,” a documentary about ancient building preservation directed by Guo Dongsheng;
“Hiding in the Rivers and Mountains” directed by Guo Xufeng, a music documentary film;
“My Taxi Dad” directed by Geng Lei;
“Turning the Tables” directed by Wang Chuwei.
The 40th Anniversary Restoration of “Yellow Earth” Resonates with the Festival’s Theme “This Piece of Soil”
The 2024 8th Pingyao International Film Festival will host a retrospective exhibition themed “This Piece of Soil,” showcasing three short films and nine features from the early 20th century to the 1990s. It includes the classic Soviet work “Land” from 1930, the milestone Brazilian film of the new cinema movement “The Hard Years” from 1963, and the Cannes Palme d'Or winners “The Wooden Clogs” and “The Conqueror,” as well as Abbas Kiarostami’s masterpiece “Life Goes On,” all classic films concerning “land.”
Retrospective exhibition poster
In line with this year's theme, the film festival will prominently announce a 40th anniversary tribute screening of “Yellow Earth” (Restored Version) to celebrate the iconic work by director Chen Kaige on its four decades since its debut.
“Yellow Earth” (Restored Version)
Notably, the Pingyao International Film Festival has collaborated with the French Film Archive to showcase three precious short films from their collection, all shot in the early 20th century. These include “Late Qing Images” filmed in China by Auguste François, who was the French consul in Longzhou, Yunnan (Kunming); “The Beautiful Angkor Wat” and “Angkor Ruins,” shot in Cambodia's Angkor Wat by Gaston Méliès, the brother of Georges Méliès.
Additionally, the sixth-generation director He Jianjun’s “Cloud Judge” will be specially screened at the Pingyao International Film Festival; the film “Peaceful Entry and Exit,” directed by Liu Jiangjiang and featuring actors such as Xiao Yang, Ayunga, Huang Xiaolei, Nazha, Wang Xun, and Yang Enyou, will be presented during the “Fans Carnival” segment for audience interaction.
“Peaceful Entry and Exit”
On the preceding day, the Pingyao Film Festival announced this year's shortlisted short films, which are equally impressive. Among the 39 short films, several have been nominated or won awards at significant international film festivals, such as “On the Water’s Edge,” part of the short film competition at the Cannes Film Festival, as well as other works featuring renowned actors like Jin Shijie, Xu Weizhou, Li Meng, and Huang Jue. Written and directed by Wang Yitong, with performances by Li Xueqin, Wang Yitong, Jiang Qiming, Kong Dashan, Wen Shipei, and Li Sixian, “Knocking on the Fortress’s Door” will have its world premiere as a special short film screening on Pingyao Night at the Pingyao Film Palace. Wang Yitong, known for “The Universe Exploration Editing Department,” returns to Pingyao as a director with a story about a man who has faced bullying at school trying to learn from a celebrity in the entertainment industry how to become likable.
The 8th Pingyao International Film Festival will be held from September 24 to 30 at the Pingyao Film Palace in the ancient city of Pingyao, Shanxi Province. The official announcement also promises a “Pingyao Surprise” film and 1 to 2 additional films to be revealed before the opening.
Screening List ↓↓
