Attention film enthusiasts! The 15th edition of the Beijing International Film Festival (BJIFF) is set to occur this year from April 18 to April 26.
At this festival, the main competition awards are known as the Tiantan Awards. The international jury for this award segment will be led by Chinese actor and director Jiang Wen, recognized for his work in films such as The Sun Also Rises, Let the Bullets Fly, and Rogue One. Joining him on the panel are Chinese American actress and director Joan Chen, British director and producer David Yates (known for the Fantastic Beasts trilogy, as well as multiple Harry Potter films), Finnish director Teemu Nikki, Swiss actor and director Vincent Perez, Chinese actor Ni Ni, and Hong Kong art director Tim Yip.
Another competition section is called Forward Future, which aims to spotlight the next generation of filmmakers and promote new directors displaying distinctive and innovative approaches. The jury for this category will be chaired by the acclaimed Hungarian director, screenwriter, and producer Béla Tarr, recognized for films like The Prefab People, Damnation, The Turin Horse, and Satan’s Tango.
Tiantan Award Nominees
This year, there are ten categories for the Tiantan Awards: Best Feature Film, Best Director, Best Artistic Contribution, Best Leading Actor, Best Leading Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography, and Best Music.
Fifteen films are in contention, consisting of three Chinese titles and twelve foreign entries:
**Trapped/High ’N’ Dry** 《大风杀**
- Director: Sagara (Zhang Qi)
- Country: China
- Synopsis: In a remote town threatened by an impending storm, a group of armed bandits launches an attack, plunging the community into chaos. Amid gunfire and internal conflicts within the gang, a serious showdown unfolds under the cover of a sandstorm.
**Better Me, Better You** 《好好的**
- Directors: Hao Ming, Li Peiran
- Country: China
- Synopsis: Bai Liping, a caretaker escaping domestic violence, finds herself entangled in the life of an elderly woman in Beijing, leading to a deep bond amidst their struggles and the themes of female resilience and solidarity.
**Deep in the Mountains** 《如意饭店**
- Director: Li Yongyi
- Country: China
- Synopsis: In the early 1990s, a small-town officer investigates a missing truck case, navigating a web of local characters and ultimately uncovering a series of murders.
**Apollon by Day Athena by Night**
- Director: Emine Yıldırım
- Country: Turkey
- Synopsis: An orphaned girl, accompanied by the spirits of a revolutionary, a prostitute, and a priestess, searches for her mother in a historical town.
**BAUS: The Ship's Voyage Continues**
- Director: Hokimoto Sora
- Country: Japan
- Synopsis: Two brothers in Tokyo become movie theater employees and kickstart their BAUS Theater, navigating the evolution of cinema while seeking their futures.
**Frieda’s Case**
- Director: Maria Brendle
- Country: Switzerland
- Synopsis: In 1904, a young seamstress becomes part of a significant legal battle that challenges societal norms regarding gender equality and morality.
**In My Parents’ House**
- Director: Tim Ellrich
- Country: Germany
- Synopsis: Holle's brother, living in isolation, prompts her to confront family issues as she seeks her path amidst personal and family crises.
**Loveable**
- Director: Lilja Ingolfsdottir
- Country: Norway
- Synopsis: After facing marital collapse, Maria goes on a self-discovery journey that leads her to accept her imperfections and find renewal.
**Nawi: Dear Future Me**
- Directors: Apuu Mourine, Vallentine Chelluget, Tobias Schmutzler, Kevin Schmutzler
- Country: Kenya, Germany
- Synopsis: A girl's dreams of education clash with her father's plans to marry her off, launching her fight against societal traditions with her brother's support.
**Shepherds**
- Director: Sophie Deraspe
- Country: France
- Synopsis: A young writer leaves his advertising career to become a shepherd, and a visit from a determined woman inspires a new chapter in his life.
**The Great Ambition**
- Director: Andrea Segre
- Country: Italy, Belgium, Bulgaria
- Synopsis: This film chronicles Enrico Berlinguer's efforts to shift Italy towards socialism and the challenges he faced in the political landscape.
**The Message**
- Director: Iván Fund
- Country: Argentina, Spain, Uruguay
- Synopsis: A young girl's special gift leads to unexpected opportunities for her guardians, entwined in questions of magic and innocence.
**The Summer Book**
- Director: Charlie McDow
The 15th installment of the Beijing International Film Festival (BJIFF) is set to occur this year from April 18 to April 26.
