On November 24, the press conference for the sixth Hainan Island International Film Festival was held.

This year's film festival, co-hosted by the China Media Group and the Hainan Provincial People's Government, will take place from December 4 to 10 in Sanya. As a grand event that gathers film elites from around the world and showcases the charm of cinematic arts, this festival will present a variety of vibrant activities, providing a platform for global movie lovers and industry professionals to communicate, exhibit, and collaborate.

The theme for this year's film festival is "The Sea Nurtures All, Light Reflects the Future," featuring an opening ceremony, "Golden Coconut Award" competition, film screenings, Golden Coconut Forum, masterclasses, and a closing ceremony with the award presentation. The festival will adhere to the principles of "year-round screenings, island-wide viewings, public screenings, and an entire industry chain," deeply exploring Hainan's rich cultural resources, continuously amplifying the festival's impact, and striving to create a cultural IP for the free trade port, dedicated to putting on a splendid celebration of Hainan's film culture. During this time, filmmakers, critics, media representatives, and movie enthusiasts from around the world will gather in Sanya for a captivating journey of light and shadow amidst the coconut breeze and sea waves.

Poster for the Sixth Hainan Island International Film Festival

At the press conference, the main visual poster for the festival was unveiled. Designed around the theme "The Sea Nurtures All, Light Reflects the Future," the poster features a romantic panorama that merges Hainan's geographical beauty with the allure of film arts. The image depicts crashing waves and twinkling stars, inviting everyone to gather in Sanya and jointly experience the brilliance of cinematic arts while embarking on a remarkable journey to explore the limitless possibilities of future cinema.

It is reported that the "Golden Coconut Forum" will hold six forum sessions, including one main forum, three official forums, and two cooperation forums. The main forum will focus on new driving forces in the development of China's film industry, co-productions between China and foreign countries, and will deeply discuss policy support and practical achievements for the film industry within the context of Hainan's free trade port construction. Official forums will cover themes such as maritime documentary imaging, international film industry cultural exchanges, and youth creation; while cooperation forums will focus on the international expansion of micro-short dramas, the release of short drama rankings, and revitalizing the film industry.

Over 4,300 films from 117 countries registered

The Hainan Film Festival has always been a great place for watching films. The call for entries for the "Golden Coconut Award" began on July 4, inviting high-quality films from around the world, and closed on September 20. A total of 4,330 films from 117 countries and regions were submitted. Among them, 3,356 are international films, accounting for 77.5%, covering most countries and regions including China, Iran, India, Brazil, Russia, Spain, France, the United States, Turkey, and Italy. Many of these films have previously been nominated at renowned international film festivals and will be showcased at this year's Hainan Film Festival.

The "Golden Coconut Award" competition features three categories: narrative feature films, documentary features, and short films. Luc Besson, an internationally renowned filmmaker, will serve as the chairman of the jury, which will consist of film professionals from both domestic and international backgrounds. The jury will award ten categories including Best Feature Film, Jury Grand Prize, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Screenplay, Best Visual Effects, Best Contribution in Chinese-language Films, Best Documentary, and Best Short Film, creating a feast for the visual and emotional experiences of the film community.

The diversity of languages among the films submitted is particularly noteworthy. In addition to common languages like Mandarin, English, Spanish, and French, there are also films in less common languages such as Kinyarwanda, Icelandic, and Maori. This diversity in language reflects the rich cultural landscape of cinema and highlights the international character of the Hainan Island International Film Festival.

Emergence of the Post-2000 Generation

From the composition of the registrants, the organizing committee found that the majority of film creators are from the 1980s and 1990s generations, accounting for 67%, while directors from the post-2000 generation have started to make their mark, representing 14%. Discovering and supporting new talent has always been a guiding principle of the Hainan Island International Film Festival, and this year's call for entries places even greater emphasis on the artistic creations and the legacy and development of film arts from young filmmakers.

The Hainan Island International Film Festival is committed to supporting the creative endeavors of young filmmakers, launching the "Youth Coconut Program" investment training camp for the first time. Young creators will delve into Hainan, tapping into its abundant resources to capture its beautiful moments through the lens and tell moving stories about the island. From July 10, 2024, when recruitment announcements are released, to September 6 at midnight, there were a total of 475 valid project submissions within a 59-day period. Notably, among the 475 registrants, over 75% are "post-95" young creators, and nearly 10% of "post-2000" creators actively participated in the "Youth Coconut Program" investment training camp. Currently, the top eight shortlisted short films from the "Youth Coconut Program" have been filmed across various cities in Hainan and are now in the post-production phase. The completed films will be showcased during the internal exhibition activities of this year's festival.

Film Festival Enhances Cultural Tourism Attributes

This year's film festival pays greater attention to its rootedness, aiming for "island-wide screenings and public viewings." It will collaborate with 20 cinemas across Hainan to select over 150 excellent films for screenings at theaters and outdoor venues around the island. Additionally, an annual showcase of new French films, a retrospective of Sino-French cultural exchange films, a Spanish film week, and an ASEAN film exhibition have been meticulously planned. Through outdoor screenings and film-themed markets, film enthusiasts and the public can experience the cinematic cultures of different countries right in their vicinity. Moreover, the festival will host a "Film Festival Carnival" with the theme "Traveling with Film" to enhance its cultural tourism and entertainment attributes. Through featured activities such as “Outdoor Screenings” and “New Year’s Eve Night – Meet the Cast of New Films,” the festival aims to enhance the experience and participation of both local citizens and tourists visiting Hainan. Special discount activities like "Save 15 Yuan," "10 Yuan Coupons," and "Viewing Subsidies" will also be offered to stimulate cinema consumption and enthusiasm for viewing across the island. Through diversified film experiences and rich cultural activities, the festival aims to create an annual cinematic celebration that integrates enjoyment, participation, and cultural enrichment, striving to achieve a vision of “cinematic tourism and cultural benefits for the public.”

It is noteworthy that the previous Hainan Island International Film Festival extended an invitation to creators to film in Hainan. "Filming in Hainan," we will leverage the premier natural ecological environment, favorable business environment, and advantageous free trade port policies to attract more film industry entities to establish themselves in Hainan and produce high-quality films here. "Filming Hainan," we also encourage creators to use the natural and cultural backdrop of Hainan in their films, allowing the island's unique charm to sparkle on screen. It has been reported that our province's "Filming in Hainan" film production cooperation service mini-program will be launched at this year's film festival, integrating location suggestions, venue reservations, actor recruitment, equipment rentals, policy interpretations, and other functions, providing convenient one-stop services for film production teams and further enhancing the Hainan film industry chain to foster a positive collaborative production environment.