Celebrities from the film industry, both domestic and international, lit up the red carpet of the 27th Shanghai International Film Festival, or SIFF, at the Shanghai Grand Theater, showcasing their latest film projects to eager movie fans.

The festival's red carpet glittered with over 200 Chinese and international guests, with the spotlight initially on the stellar cast of the opening film, She's Got No Name, led by director Peter Ho-Sun Chan. The film crew is scheduled to engage with audiences at 13 cinemas in Shanghai from Saturday to Monday, during which the film will be screened at more than 120 cinemas across the city.

The film, based on a notorious criminal case from the Republic of China era, intricately reconstructs 1940s Shanghai, while portraying the tragic tale of the accused wife, played by Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi. Public screenings across China are set to commence on June 21.

Dongji Rescue, another film that has made waves, features a powerhouse cast including Zhu Yilong, Wu Lei and Ni Ni, with directors Guan Hu and Fei Zhenxiang at the helm. The crew shared the challenges faced during filming, particularly the demanding water scenes that required extensive diving training. The film is scheduled for a nationwide premiere across China on Aug 8.

The directorial team of the A Cool Fish film series, Rao Xiaozhi and producer Liang Lin, along with a star-studded cast, also generated anticipation for the next film of the series. Additionally, the production team of The Lychee Road, a film adapted from a popular novel, led by writer, director, and lead actor Da Peng, made a collective appearance on the red carpet, further enhancing the festival's glamor.

Films competing in the Golden Goblet Awards main competition, such as The Scents of Things Remembered by Antonio Ferreira, The Reborn by Santiago Esteeve, One Wacky Summer by Cao Baoping and My Father's Son by Qiu Sheng, also graced the red carpet, with all set for their world premieres during the festival. The crew of Odds Beater, a film competing in the Asian New Talent section, also added to the festival's allure.

The red carpet also highlighted several films that have benefited from the SIFF Project, an influential film financing initiative in Asia, including Listening to the Wind, As the River Goes By, and She Sat There Like All Ordinary Ones. These films will be featured in the festival.

Additionally, in commemoration of the 130th anniversary of world cinema and the 120th anniversary of Chinese cinema, this year's SIFF will also present restored classics, with the Shanghai Film Dubbing Factory presenting a dialect version of the film A Spring River Flows East. The film, hailed as the first epic film in Chinese cinema history, was released in January 1948.

The screening section, which will run all week, will also feature renowned filmmakers from Japan, Thailand, and other countries, showcasing diverse cultural perspectives rooted in Asia, ranging from Japanese idol culture to Thai poetic aesthetics, allowing the world to witness the emerging talents of Asia, and embracing global cinematic trends.

The last to step onto the red carpet were the members of the jury panel for the Golden Goblet Awards, which spans five categories: Main Competition, Asian new Talent, Documentaries, Animation, and Short Films.

Academy Award-winning Italian director and screenwriter Giuseppe Tornatore, jury president of the main competition, highlighted the collaborative nature of the jury process, explaining how members engage in intense discussion and debate to determine which film resonates most deeply with them, ultimately leading to the selection of the winning film.

Over the next few days, Tornatore and the other jury members will discuss the nominated films in each category, and select the best.