To whom it may concern,

The 17th Beijing International Film Festival will be held in Beijing, China, in April, 2027. The Organizing Committee of BJIFF excitedly invites you or your company to recommend excellent films to participate in the Tiantan Award Competition Section, Forward Future Section, BJIFF Short Section and Beijing Film Panorama Section.

 

Details of each section and registration instructions are as follows:

 

I.Tiantan Award Competition Section

Tiantan Award is the official competition section of the BJIFF. Its aim is to discover and present recent outstanding films from across the globe and encourage diversity in cinema. Tiantan Award each year comprises a total of 15-17 selected films. During the festival, a seven-member jury will watch the films and select the films and filmmakers to be awarded in ten categories. Nikita Mikhalkov, John Woo, Bille August, Wong Kar Wai, Gong Li, Li Xuejian, Zhang Yimou, Emir Kusturica, Jiang Wen, and Juliette Binoche have led the international jury.

Tiantan Award includes 10 awards: Best Feature Film, Best Director, Best Artistic Contribution, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography, and Best Music. The winners of these awards will be announced during the Closing & Awards Ceremony.

The feature-length fiction films that meet the following conditions are eligible for Tiantan Award Competition Section:

• Film that has been completed in the country of origin after April 1st, 2026.
• The minimum running time is 70 minutes. 
• International films should be at least Chinese Mainland Premiere.
• Chinese films must not have been previously theatrically released in China. Priority will be given to films that are world premieres.
• Format: DCP

 

II.Forward Future Competition Section

The Forward Future section consistently upholds its mission to “Inspiring Innovation, Discovering New Talent” dedicated to capturing the cutting-edge trends of international filmmaking, encouraging originality, and showcasing the rich cultural diversity of cinematic art. The section solicits debut feature films from emerging directors worldwide, having attracted outstanding entries from five continents and dozens of countries and regions over the years, witnessing the growth and launch of numerous new filmmakers. Its jury comprises esteemed domestic and international film professionals and industry experts, with Tony Rayns, Ning Ying, Pema Tseden, Jerzy Skolimowski, Béla Tarr, and Feng Xiaogang having served as international jury presidents, guiding young creators with their professional insight.

The Forward Future section presents seven honors: Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Actress, Best Actor, Best Artistic Contribution, and Jury Special Mention. New works with original spirit, strong authorial vision, and international distribution potential are especially valued and will earn the attention of both the jury and audiences through their distinctive cinematic language and sincere creative approach.

The feature-length fiction films that meet the following conditions are eligible for Forward Future Competition Section:

• Film that has been completed in the country of origin after April 1st, 2026.
• The minimum running time is 70 minutes.
• Director’s first feature-length fiction film.
• Chinese films must not have been previously theatrically released in China. Priority will be given to films that are world premieres.
• International films should be either world premieres or international premieres.
• Format: DCP

 

III.BJIFF Short Section

The BJIFF Short Section is dedicated to promoting a diverse film ecosystem and supporting the growth of emerging filmmakers. This section aims to discover outstanding short films with creative potential and market value, connect them with industry resources, and provide a sustainable platform for young talents to develop their craft. It consists of two key segments: a Competition focused on genre innovation and market potential for Chinese-language shorts, and a Panorama open to exceptional genre short films from around the world.

The short films that meet the following conditions are eligible for the BJIFF Short Section:

• The film must be a narrative or genre short film completed after April 1st, 2026.
• Duration: 5-30 minutes (including opening and end credits).
• Chinese-language shorts are encouraged and will be prioritized for the Competition; the Panorama is open to worldwide submissions.
• If selected, the film must be provided in DCP or a high-quality digital file meeting the festival's screening standards.

 

IV.Beijing Film Panorama Section

Films featured at Beijing Film Panorama of the 17th BJIFF will be screened throughout theaters in 2027. As one of the core events in BJIFF, Beijing Film Panorama will screen excellent films from all over the world. It will build a platform of observation, discussion, learning, and exchange for filmmakers and fans throughout the world, exhibiting fascinating cultural diversity.

Films that meet the following conditions are eligible for Beijing Film Panorama Section:

• Feature, animation and documentary films that have been completed in the country of origin after April 1st, 2026.
• The minimum running time is 60 minutes
• Format: DCP

 

World premieres or international premieres are given priority. No fee will be charged for the submission of films. Registrants should be the producers or distributors of the film, who are responsible for the copyright of the registered films, its related prints, and other rights.

Please submit films before January 15th, 2027. For related issues, please contact BJIFF Organizing Committee Office. Thank you for your support towards Beijing International Film Festival!

 

Contact Information:

 

Tiantan Award Competition Section: competition@bjiff.com

Forward Future Section: forwardfuture@bjiff.com

BJIFF Short Section: shorts@bjiff.com

Ms. WANG Xiangyi +86-15210145014

Mr. ZHANG Harry +86-13120232013

 

Beijing Film Panorama Section: panorama@bjiff.com

Domestic Affairs - Mr. YANG Bokai +86-10-85336460

International Affairs - Ms. LI Shuo +86-10-82296002