The festival
The Pingyao International Film Festival (PYIFF) was launched in October 2017 by Chinese filmmaker Jia Zhangke together with veteran festival programmer Marco Müller. Set inside the UNESCO-listed ancient city of Pingyao in Shanxi Province, it is known for championing young Chinese directors and cinema from outside the traditional Western mainstream.
Worth knowing
PYIFF built a distinctive identity around discovering debut and early-career filmmakers, with programming that also highlights films from Asia, Eastern Europe, Latin America, and Africa. Its purpose-built Festival Palace sits within Pingyao's historic walled town, and the event is typically held in October.
How to attend
The festival sells tickets to the general public for screenings held within the Pingyao Festival Palace complex, combining public screenings with industry and forum activities.
Awards & submissions
PYIFF’s awards are organized around two strands: the Roberto Rossellini honors, given in the international ‘Crouching Tigers’ section for Best Film, Best Director and a Jury Award, and the Fei Mu honors — named for the pioneering Chinese director — recognizing first or second features by young Chinese-language filmmakers in the ‘Hidden Dragons’ section, with prizes for film, direction and performances. Launched in 2017 by filmmaker Jia Zhangke with veteran programmer Marco Müller, the festival built its identity around discovering debut and early-career directors, and its programming also highlights films from Eastern Europe, Latin America and Africa. Set inside the UNESCO-listed ancient city of Pingyao, it screens within a purpose-built Festival Palace complex each October, selling tickets to the public alongside industry and forum activities. Programme and any submission details are published on the festival’s official channels ahead of each edition.
Official site →Dates and programs change year to year — check the official site for the current edition.