CGTN’s film picks from the 2025 Shanghai International Film Festival

The Shanghai International Film Festival returns this June with over 400 films, celebrating cinematic artistry from around the world. This year’s lineup honors legends like Yuan Muzhi, revives restored classics in 4K, and highlights new voices in Asian cinema and imaginative sci-fi storytelling.

CGTN has curated a selection of standout films that reflect cultural diversity and international collaboration. The list includes:

• The Guardian of Stories from Laos, a documentary on preserving cultural heritage
• Wild Nights, Tamed Beasts from China, combining crime and family drama
• Black, Red, Yellow from Kyrgyzstan, focused on traditional carpet craftsmanship
• Vermiglio from Italy, France, and Belgium, a visually rich story set in the Alps about women’s struggles
• Lesson Learned from Hungary, addressing violence in education with stark realism
• Son from Russia and Kazakhstan, an animated short about family bonds
• Nine Queens from Argentina, a witty and layered heist film
• Edge of Time from China, an animated tale with fantasy elements
• Eraserhead from the United States, David Lynch’s groundbreaking experimental debut

This curated collection reflects the power of cinema to challenge norms, honor heritage, and connect people across cultures. The festival invites audiences not just to watch, but to experience stories that reveal the richness of our shared humanity.

CGTN welcomes viewers to immerse themselves in the global language of film — to feel, reflect, and see the world through new eyes.

Credit : CGTN