HIIFF talent program builds platform for new filmmakers

The upgraded HIIFF Talents program unveiled its core content at a press conference for the seventh Hainan Island International Film Festival on Nov 26.

The short film-focused initiative has established a comprehensive platform for transforming results into tangible outcomes, covering student graduation projects, short film incubation, feature film pitching, and copyright transactions. It is helping grow the industry and bringing domestic and international opportunities to young filmmakers.

The upgraded program features four core components: "HIIFF class" offers fiction, non-fiction, and middle and high school student categories to identify talent through film selection and forums; "short film lab" selected six outstanding projects from 343 global script submissions, all now in production; "feature film lab", market-oriented, shortlisted 15 projects from 457 submissions for final pitching sessions; and "market screenings" serves as a hub connecting Chinese cinema with global markets, facilitating both international exposure for domestic works and the introduction of foreign content.

Additionally, the program will host industry meetings for the selected projects, allowing their representatives to connect directly with industry leaders and obtain real opportunities for development.

A forum venue of the sixth Hainan Island International Film Festival. [Photo/Sanya Daily]