Published:September 25, 2025
Reading Time:2 min read
Pingyao, Shanxi – September 24, 2025 — The 9th Pingyao International Film Festival (PYIFF) officially kicks off today in the historic walled city of Pingyao, br…
Pingyao, Shanxi – September 24, 2025 — The 9th Pingyao International Film Festival (PYIFF) officially kicks off today in the historic walled city of Pingyao, bringing together acclaimed filmmakers, fresh new voices, and outstanding films from around the globe.
Today’s grand opening presents “Happy New Year, Mr. Maud”, directed by Zhang Dalei, as the festival’s opening film. The closing film and the much-anticipated “Pingyao Surprises” program add extra excitement. So far, three “Pingyao Surprises” have been revealed:
“A Wild Time” by Bi Gan
“The Sun Hangs High” by Cai Shangjun
“Near the End” by Olivier Laxe
With the full program and schedule to be released shortly, the stage is set for ten days of cinematic discovery, cultural dialogue, and unforgettable screenings in one of China’s most storied cultural landmarks.
This year’s submissions reached 534 films worldwide, with final selections spanning 25 countries and regions, including China, Nigeria, Iraq, Norway, Japan, Iran, Brazil, Singapore, and Bulgaria. The program highlights the festival’s commitment to diversity and international vision.
The lineup features:
30% world premieres
65% Asian premieres
100% China premieres
This ensures Chinese audiences enjoy a “zero time lag” experience with the global film scene.
Emerging directors are in the spotlight: 18 debut feature films are included in the selection, with the Hidden Dragon Competition alone featuring 8 directorial debuts among 11 entries. This reflects PYIFF’s mission to champion young filmmakers and nurture bold new creative voices.
