When the screen becomes the prism of the times, recommending the best new films of the year has always been one of the purposes of the Shanghai International Film Festival. "New Works by Famous Directors" brings together the latest masterpieces of well-known directors, "Film Festival Highlights" collects the best works of the annual film festival, and "World Premieres" presents the shining edge of the new generation of filmmakers. These three units not only bring together the must-see films of the year selected for the autumn film festivals such as San Sebastian, Venice, Tokyo, and Karlovy Vary, but also include the freshly baked best works of word-of-mouth in 2025 Sundance and Berlin.
[The official recommended screening list is as follows]
New work by famous director 丨 NEW FROM AUTEUR
PHANTOSMIA (2024)
Director: Lav Diaz
Highlights: Philippine film master depicts the scars of memory in black and white epic
A retired military officer suffers from a strange disease: he always smells a non-existent odor. The doctor suspects that this is a rare phantom olfaction, which may be caused by an unresolved knot buried deep in his heart. In order to solve this problem, he has to re-examine the memory fragments that have been sealed by time... The director continues his insight into Philippine society with black and white images: When the shadow of history covers an individual, how is the individual distorted? He finally asks a resounding question: When can we truly face the past?
Lav Diaz, a leading figure in the new Philippine cinema, has won numerous awards at international film festivals such as Venice, Berlin and Locarno. This film is his blockbuster work selected for the Venice International Film Festival again in 2024, showing his profound exploration of the dilemma of human nature.
Afternoons of Solitude (2024)
Director: Albert Serra
Highlights: The arena where death and elegance dance together
The famous Spanish director Albert Serra uses the bullfighting ritual of Spanish bullfighting star Andres Roca Rei as a starting point to record his trajectory from his grand appearance to his bloody robe. When the outer garment of civilization slips off along with the robe, are we all in the dilemma of self-sacrifice?
As a Cannes regular and Jean Vigo Award winner (La Mort de Louis XIV), Serra continues his signature direct film style, penetrating the bloody curtain of the bullring, reconstructing the physical experience under the aesthetics of violence between the trembling muscles of the dying bull and the imperial maneuvers of the bullfighter - we are able to see through the screen, break through the limitations of time and distance, and face the most naked fight and madness. The film won the Golden Shell Award at the 2024 San Sebastian Film Festival.
WHAT DOES THAT NATURE SAY TO YOU (2025)
Director: Hong Sang-soo
Highlights: Poets, nature and family, dual ambiguity inside and outside the camera
A young poet sends his girlfriend home but is accidentally involved in a party at her house. Under the seemingly happy conversation, class differences and emotional rifts gradually emerge. Korean director Hong Sang-soo's new work continues his iconic minimalist style, and through an unexpected family gathering, he cleverly shows the eternal conflict between artistic pursuits and the reality of class.
The film uses low-resolution images and impromptu dialogues to construct a unique narrative space. The seemingly casual conversation hides the surge of emotions, alcohol gradually catalyzes the truth, and the illusions that maintain decency quietly disintegrate. Hong Sang-soo uses implicit methods to dive into the depths of people's hearts under the light appearance, accurately analyzing the existential dilemma of contemporary interpersonal relationships and intellectuals, once again demonstrating his keen insight into human nature as a filmmaker. The film has been shortlisted for the main competition unit of the 2025 Berlin International Film Festival.
Film Festival Highlights丨VIVA LA FESTIVAL
LOVEABLE
Director: Lilia Ingolfsdottir
Highlights: Norwegian version of Marriage Story
Maria is stuck in a marriage quagmire, longing for her partner's response but repeatedly being disappointed. The film uses extremely restrained camera language to carefully depict her inner shock - from self-doubt to awakening, every quarrel, cold violence and loneliness becomes an opportunity to get to know herself again.
Helga Gullien's delicate and realistic performance shows Maria's complex emotional changes layer by layer. The confession in front of the mirror is particularly moving, showing the process of a woman learning to embrace vulnerability and accept herself when facing emotional fear.
As the first feature film directed by Lilia Ingolfsdottir, the film won the Special Jury Prize and the Best Actress Award in the main competition unit at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival last year, and this year it won four important awards including the Best Film at the Beijing International Film Festival.
The Other Side of the Sky (2025) THE BLUE TRAIL
Director: Gabriel Mascaro
Highlights: Grandma Wanfei's Fantastic Journey
In order to revive the economy, the Brazilian government has set up a permanent quarantine area for people over 80 years old, allowing them to "enjoy" their old age there so that the younger generation can devote themselves to production and development, just like "The Ballad of Narayama" in South America. The protagonist of the film, Teka, was shocked when she learned that the resettlement age had been lowered and she was included. She decided to sneak away along the tributaries of the Amazon River to avoid the pursuit of officials, just to realize her last wish before her freedom was deprived - to take a plane.
Director Gabriel Mascaro presents a cat-and-mouse game between the state apparatus and the individual with a fantastic and interesting story, discussing a series of modern social issues such as population aging and indifferent intergenerational relations. The film was shortlisted for the main competition unit of the 2025 Berlin International Film Festival and eventually won the Jury Prize.
World Debut丨WORLD DEBUT
Spring and Family Affairs (2024) MARCH TO MAY
Director: Martin Pavol Repka
Highlights: Adapted from a true story, when a new life is about to come into a family of five...
A family of five lives together in an old house in the countryside. The parents are getting older, and the children are growing up and will soon go their separate ways. The news of their mother's unexpected pregnancy breaks their original unchanging daily life, and the idea of having a new member in the family gradually affects every member of the family.
The story in the film was inspired by the director's real experience. When he was 15 years old, his mother unexpectedly became pregnant. He put his feelings at the time and the subtle changes in his family members in the film, and completed the film with delicate and subtle shooting techniques. The performances of the actors added a lot to the film. The film was screened at the 2024 Karlovy Vary International Film Festival and received unanimous praise from the audience, and finally won the Special Mention Award.
The sky is above, I am in the valley (2024) PROMISE, I'LL BE FINE
Director: Katarina Gramatova
Highlights: See how an amateur teenager uncovers the cruel truth in a web of lies woven by family affection
15-year-old Slovak boy Eno and his friends spend their summer vacation in a remote village. He hopes his mother, who often works away from home, can come back soon. However, his friends and villagers reveal the unknown side of his mother, which completely disrupts Eno's mind. He begins to investigate his mother's secrets...
Director Katarina Gramatova was inspired by her earlier documentary shorts and completed her first feature film, which shows a detailed insight into social deception through a secretly struggling growth story. The film was shortlisted for the main competition unit of the 2024 Tokyo International Film Festival. The director boldly used amateur actors, and the protagonist's melancholy, fragile and determined face became the magic moment of the film.
SECOND CHANCE (2024)
Director: Subhadra Mahajan
Highlights: Dance as medicine, the self-healing of a rebellious soul under the Himalayas
After a traumatic experience, young Nia came to a farmhouse in the Himalayas, where she lived with a kind and warm-hearted grandmother and a little boy who wanted to be Superman. There, her broken heart found kindness and hope.
Although the mountain life far from the hustle and bustle is far from the daily life in the city, Nia's anxiety and loneliness can evoke deep resonance in every audience. The director is good at capturing the texture of life, and the black and white images restore the breathtaking beauty of the Himalayan snow-capped mountains in a low-key and elegant way. Almost every frame conveys simple and pure fun, which makes people laugh and warm their hearts. Subhadra Mahajan's first feature film was selected for the Proxima competition unit of the 2025 Karlovy Vary International Film Festival.
Where the Wind Comes From (2025)
Director: Amel Galati
Highlights: Tunisian youth's brilliant road trip
A brave and imaginative girl and a sensitive young man who loves painting. The heavy family and job-hunting life suffocate them, so the two childhood friends embark on a road trip across Tunisia.
Faced with the common problems of a generation of young people, director Amer Galati's first feature film chooses to deal with serious topics in a light-hearted and humorous way. She designed a sunny journey, and the two protagonists who complement each other did not fall into the rut of love. The director tested their deep friendship in the crisis.
The fantastic and surreal scenes in the film are in sharp contrast to the protagonist's situation. It is precisely this kind of imagination that becomes a small outlet for oppressive life, allowing us to think of light in the darkness. The film has been shortlisted for the World Drama Competition at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival.
That Summer in Paris (2025)
Director: Valentin Kadic
Highlights: Experience a small town girl's Parisian summer in Shanghai
Brandin, who comes from a seaside town, went to Paris to watch the games during the Olympics, but she often encountered difficulties due to problems such as luggage and even age. She was at a loss in this extremely bustling city.
Director Valentin Kadic used the real Paris Olympics as the backdrop to shoot a refreshing short film in the style of Rohmer, capturing the other side of a bustling metropolis in the carnival. Although the heroine's experience is a little embarrassing or sad, she does not need sympathy or pity from the outside world. The taciturn Brandini expresses her inner voice appropriately, and her loyalty to herself is particularly charming.
The film won wide acclaim in the newly established "Viewpoint" unit of the 2025 Berlin International Film Festival for its unique and fresh style.
Note: If the film list changes, please refer to the actual schedule.
