Hainan Jury Calls Festival a Launchpad for 2026’s Biggest Movies

The 7th Hainan Island International Film Festival (HIIFF) opened in China with a strong call to redefine its position within the global cinematic calendar. At a press conference introducing the festival’s jury, Golden Coconut Award jury president Marco Müller urged industry leaders and audiences to reimagine Hainan not as a recap of the current year, but as a launchpad for films that will shape the year ahead.

Müller emphasized that Hainan’s timing — strategically located between November’s American Film Market (AFM) and February’s Berlin International Film Festival — gives it a valuable opportunity to premiere new and daring works.

“The timing is particularly important,” Müller said. “The Hainan Film Festival’s schedule provides an opportunity to discover the newest films — films that are coming out immediately next year.”

Festival Seeks Identity Amid Global Competition

As a relatively young festival in a crowded circuit, Hainan is still defining its voice. Jurors acknowledged challenges facing both the event and the broader film ecosystem, including questions about China’s local box office stability, studio investment slowdown, and extended distribution cycles.

The dual purpose of balancing local and international priorities surfaced repeatedly, reflecting the festival’s ambition to be both a regional showcase and a global industry player.

Diverse Jury Voices on Representation and Creativity

Documentary juror Renee Tajima-Peña, referencing the #OscarsSoWhite campaign, discussed the evolving landscape for Asian-American representation in Hollywood.

“We really had to fight to gain a place at the table,” she said. “Many of our stories are rooted here in China, and we are hungry to tell them.”

Veteran actor Guo Tao addressed concerns about declining production rates and shifting investor confidence, arguing that the solution lies in storytelling craft rather than larger budgets.

“The current film market needs more filmmakers to uphold the principle of content is king,” he said. “We need to find a balance between commercial success and artistic merit.”

Cultural Diplomacy and Artistic Philosophy Resonates

The festival also highlighted international cultural partnerships, celebrating the 50th anniversary of China–Thailand diplomatic relations, accompanied by Chinese-Thai collaborative events. Thai director Banjong Pisanthanakun described the relationship as one rooted in familial bonds.

Argentine filmmaker Mariano Llinás advocated for small-scale independent filmmaking rather than blockbuster-driven production pressure.

“Try to make your pictures small and smaller,” he said. “They would belong to you in a deeper way.”

While promotional posters for Avatar: Fire and Ash dominated festival walkways, these reflections underscored the belief that the future of cinema may depend on personal authorship rather than large-scale spectacle.