#China #Shanghai #Shanghai International Film Festival #Audiovisual Industry #micro-drama

Unprecedented Global Participation at the Shanghai International Film & TV Market

The recently concluded Shanghai International Film & TV Market, held from June 21 to 24, 2026, in conjunction with the 28th Shanghai International Film Festival and the 31st Shanghai TV Festival, has marked a historic moment in the industry with its record global participation. This integrated market attracted professionals from the film, television, and online audiovisual sectors, aiming to enhance cross-border cooperation and industrial exchange across various formats including feature films, dramatic series, micro-dramas, documentaries, animation, and audiovisual technology.

This year, the international participation surged to new heights with nearly 200 exhibitors, comprising 75 international entities from 15 different countries and regions, illustrating a remarkable 50% increase from the previous year. Various countries like Brazil, Russia, South Korea, and Spain had official delegations with dedicated booths, while institutions from Jordan, Kazakhstan, Georgia, and Croatia promoted their sector policies and cooperation opportunities to attendees. During the festival, Jordan's Royal Film Commission joined the Belt and Road Film Festival Alliance, growing the network to include 51 countries and 58 institutional members. Verified buyers from six major global regions participated, including significant media groups, public broadcasters, and regional streaming platforms.

The television segment of the festival also placed significant emphasis on emerging online audiovisual formats, highlighted by the inaugural "Youth Creation Day". This event featured workshops focusing on content creation through AI-generated content (AIGC) and the development of micro-dramas. Dedicated forums explored new avenues for producing high-quality micro-dramas in the era of artificial intelligence. Additionally, the festival underscored Shanghai's commitment to supporting the development and international expansion of the micro-drama industry.

The integration of digital updates enhanced business matchmaking efficiency. A newly launched online meeting reservation system enabled exhibitors and buyers to arrange individual meetings in advance, yielding nearly 300 requests for cross-border meetings shortly after its launch. The market encompassed various industry events centered on emerging technologies and new business models within the audiovisual sector. The AI BACKLOT technology forum scrutinized cross-border co-production, virtual production workflows, and AI-based visual content creation.

The pavilion promoting Chinese series internationally garnered significant interest for its short-form Chinese content, attracting licensing and distribution opportunities from platforms in Southeast Asia, India, and Europe. A global trends workshop held on June 21 brought together producers from the UK, India, and Malaysia to discuss foreign demand for Chinese micro-dramas and emerging AI-based production models.

Chen Guo, Managing Director of the Shanghai International Film & TV Events Center, expressed that the festival aims to foster a "reciprocal increase of power and responsibility," by offering international platforms for Chinese content and young creatives, while opening broader channels for global cooperation and resource sharing. As the only Chinese film festival classified as Category A and accredited by FIAPF, this year’s SIFF attracted an unprecedented 4,100 submissions from 125 countries and regions, demonstrating the festival's growing international reach and Shanghai's emerging role as a global hub for collaboration in the audiovisual industry.