The Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF) has officially commenced, running through June 21. The event opened with the screening of Afterpiece, a psychological drama by first-time director Keane T.K. Wong. According to the Hollywood Reporter, Wong expressed that having a feature debut selected as the opening film is a high recognition of the work. The film was produced with support from the Hong Kong government’s Directors’ Succession Scheme, which paired Wong with veteran producer Derek Yee. The festival features a diverse program including films from 34 countries and regions. The main competition and documentary sections feature 100 percent world premieres for the first time in the festival’s history. The program also includes the first Moroccan film in the main competition in 27 years, as well as first entries for Jordan and Saudi Arabia in the Asian New Talent section. While the main competition lacks titles from the U.S., Japan, or South Korea this year, the festival is highlighting various themes, including tributes to figures like Ken Loach and Marilyn Monroe, and seminars exploring the impact of artificial intelligence on cinema. Singaporean filmmaker Anthony Chen is serving as the president of the Asian New Talent jury this year. Chen, whose debut Ilo Ilo won the Camera d’Or at Cannes, stated that he views film festivals as important launchpads for young filmmakers. He noted that the Asian New Talent section has previously discovered notable figures such as Ning Hao and Makoto Shinkai. Chen also shared that he is developing a 12-part episodic series as a Chinese-Singapore co-production with producer Meng Xie, which is scheduled to enter production in the coming months. The festival is also highlighting various talent development initiatives, such as the SIFF ING Young Filmmakers Program and the SIFF NEXT Film Project Training Camp. According to Chen Guo, managing director of the Shanghai International Film & TV Events Center, these programs are part of a comprehensive system designed to cultivate Chinese-language filmmakers.