Guide to the 28th Shanghai International Film Festival

The 28th Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF) returns to Shanghai, running from June 12 to June 21, 2026, with special screenings extending until June 28. For film enthusiasts, local moviegoers, and visitors planning to attend, preparing for this massive event requires a solid strategy.

Whether you are looking to secure tickets to highly anticipated international restorations, explore cutting-edge sci-fi cinema, or catch the star-studded opening ceremony, this practical guide compiled from local moviegoer insights has everything you need to know to navigate the festival.

Key Festival Dates and Milestones

To successfully secure your tickets and plan your itinerary, mark these essential dates on your calendar:

• June 3, 2026: The official screening schedule is published online. Use this to map out your daily viewings.
• June 5, 2026 (12:00 PM): Online ticket sales begin for Shanghai screening venues exclusively on the Damai platform.
• June 5, 2026 (2:00 PM): Offline ticket booths at designated theaters in Shanghai open for sales (exactly two hours after online sales commence).
• June 6, 2026 (12:00 PM): Online ticket sales begin on Damai for designated screening venues in the broader Yangtze River Delta region.
• June 12–21, 2026: Main festival period.
• June 12–28, 2026: Extended film screening window.

Opening Ceremony and Guest Lineup

The festival’s opening ceremony will take place at the historic Shanghai Grand Theatre. Note that while some schedules list the opening events on June 13, others note activities extending to June 14, so double-check your event-specific passes.

The 2026 Golden Goblet Awards feature a high-profile jury and guest presence:

• Jury President: Renowned actor Tony Leung serves as the Golden Goblet Award Jury President for this edition.
• Featured Juror / Guests: Actress Wen Qi will attend as a juror and guest for the opening events. Other highly anticipated appearances at the Shanghai Grand Theatre include actresses Zhang Ruonan and Xin Zhilei.
• Opening Film: The designated opening film for the 28th SIFF is The Fourth Act (《第四幕》).

Curated Film Sections and Highlights

With over a hundred initial titles spanning multiple genres, navigating the catalog can be overwhelming. To help you choose, the festival is divided into distinct curated sections:

Film Section	Highlights & Key Titles	Best For
Sci-Fi & Special Screenings	Ready Player One (Steven Spielberg's sci-fi hit screened in immersive IMAX 3D and 4K formats).	Sci-Fi and IMAX fans
Annual Asian Cinema	心犬相随 (Thai box office phenomenon following a stray dog's journey); 无可奈何 (New drama directed by Lee Byung-hun and starring Son Ye-jin, depicting mid-life unemployment).	Drama lovers, Asian cinema enthusiasts
4K Restorations & Classics	South, Recreant, South (《南国再见，南国》 4K); Margo Queen (《玛戈王后》 4K); Some Like It Hot (《热情如火》); Rope (《夺魂索》 4K); Carrie (《魔女嘉莉》 4K).	Cinephiles, classic film lovers
Science Popularization	Natural world documentaries including Blue Whale: Return of the Giants, Ocean: The Blue Planet, T-Rex, and Great Bear Rainforest.	Families, documentary fans
Chinese New Horizons / Huayu Xinfeng	Multiregional titles like 核, 小洞天, 小戒指, 一个夜晚与三个夏天, and 意外以外.	Indie and contemporary Chinese cinema fans

Screening Venues & Offline Activities

This year, there are 52 designated screening theaters across the region. This includes 47 theaters covering all 16 districts of Shanghai (including the "Five New Cities") and 5 theaters across key cities in the Yangtze River Delta region.

For those interested in exploring the city between films, there are offline interactive events:

• Stamp Collecting & Pop-Ups: Head to the intersection of Xinhua Road near the SHO Film Art Center. There is a yellow check-in booth set up in the outdoor market for stamp collecting and festival merchandise.
• A Useful Caveat: While there are six stamp-collecting locations, local attendees note that the "Happiness Wall" stamp station at the SHO Film Art Center is exceptionally difficult to locate. Don't hesitate to ask staff for directions.

Pro Booking Tips and Festival Caveats

• Draft Your Schedule Early: Do not wait until June 5 to decide what to watch. Many local enthusiasts download user-compiled PDF summaries or use custom online schedule builders ("My List" / "My Schedule" tools) to organize their intended daily slots before tickets go on sale.
• Be Prepared for Scaled-Back Sections: If you are a horror or thriller fan, take note: the highly popular "Midnight Surprise" unit has been heavily scaled back this year, featuring only two announced titles (Carrie and the New Zealand comedy The Grass Eater).
• Note on Competition Selection: There is an active debate among local attendees regarding the Main Competition lineup. While some moviegoers have expressed disappointment that 3 out of the 12 nominated films are domestic Chinese productions, others point out that a 25% ratio is completely standard for major international film festivals like Cannes, Venice, and Berlin.

Locations

Place Name	Address/Area	Apple Maps
上海大剧院 shang hai da ju yuan	Shanghai	Apple Maps
上海影城 shang hai ying cheng	新华路	Apple Maps

All Xiaohongshu Notes