Hainan Film Festival returns with global cinema highlights

The sixth Hainan Island International Film Festival poster features stars, lights and the ocean. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The sixth Hainan Island International Film Festival is set to take place from Dec 4 to 10 in Sanya, South China's Hainan province, bringing together filmmakers, critics, journalists and movie lovers from around the globe for a cinematic event themed "From Oceans, With Visions".

The festival will adhere to its principles of year-round screenings, island-wide showings, universal viewing and full industry engagement, featuring an opening ceremony on Dec 6 and a closing ceremony on Dec 10, said Chen Jiyang, executive deputy director of the publicity department of the CPC Hainan Provincial Committee, director of Hainan's provincial film bureau, and secretary-general of the Hainan Island International Film Festival organizing committee, at a press conference on Sunday in Sanya.

The festival's Golden Coconut Awards competition, which began accepting submissions on July 4, received 4,330 entries from 117 countries and regions by Sept 20. Of these, 3,356 were international films, comprising 77.5 percent of the total, with entries from nations including Iran, India, Brazil, Russia, Spain, France, the United States, Turkiye and Italy. The submissions include several films previously featured at prominent international film festivals.

The international jury, chaired by French film director, writer and producer Luc Besson and comprising film professionals from around the world, will present 10 awards: Best Film, Jury Award, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Screenwriter, Best Visual Effects, Best Chinese Film Contribution, Best Documentary and Best Short Film.

French actress Sophie Marceau will serve as the festival's ambassador, while Chinese actor Ge You will be the festival's New Year ambassador.

Celebrating the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and France, the festival will also feature events such as the Annual French Film Showcase and a retrospective of China-France cultural exchange films.

Spanish Film Week, the ASEAN Film Exhibition, and international masterclasses will also be held.