The Hengdian Film Festival, an influential annual event in China'a film industry, took place last month in Hengdian, China's largest production base. It convened film professionals from across the industry to mark various trends and achievements in film and television.

This year, the festival centered around topics of global partnership in film production, highlighting the short film sector, a market that has skyrocketed globally in size and popularity. Hengdian has become a hub for short film production, with dozens of films crews shooting simultaneously at any time. 

Hengdian is also a centre for China's filmmaking world, producing 25% of domestic film output and nearly 65% of all Chinese costume dramas. At the 11th edition of its film festival this year, Hengdian hosted a range of awards and trade events at its film festival, including The Wenrong Awards, Film Trade Fair, and more.

The Wenrong Awards, celebrating top actors, directors, film crews and other industry players, has gained remarkable influence in the domestic film industry, with its star-studded red carpet and dazzling awards ceremony. Renowned filmmaker Jia Zhangke acted as jury president this year, presenting awards for actors Rayza(Re Yizha), Zhang Youhao and director Larry Yang(Yang Zi), among many others. 

Actress Rayza wins an award at the Wenrong Awards

The festival also hosted new initiatives for nurturing emerging talent, including the inaugural College Student Original Short Film Award and Micro Drama Night. These schemes allow young creators and actors to use Hengdian’s platform to gain visibility and professional acknowledgment in the wider industry.

Meanwhile, Hengdian is also actively redefining its own role in the industry, transforming from being just a traditional production hub towards becoming a strong guiding force for the next stage of China’s screen industry.

This transformation is particularly evident in the rise of micro dramas. Hengdian has firmly established itself as a global center for micro dramas, a sector that has now surpassed traditional cinema in overall market size. Between January and September, Hengdian World Studios hosted more than 2,743 micro drama crews, marking a year-on-year increase of 286%.

2025 Hengdian Micro Drama Night

Simultaneously, the festival unveiled the inaugural Hengdian Micro Short Drama Night, honoring ten leading “Short Drama Going Global” brands. This event highlighted the goals of the Hengdian International Short Drama Alliance (HISDA) to foster global co-creation and accelerate overseas distribution.

International engagement was another key focus of the festival. As part of China’s broader push to export its “new three cultural products,” online literature, dramas, and games, the China (Hengdian) International Film Trade Fair this year introduced its first International Joint Exhibition Booth.

International film and television professionals gather at the Hengdian International Film & TV Trade Fair

The event brought together the French Film Alliance alongside diplomats and film professionals from 11 countries, spurring cross-cultural dialogue and becoming a bridge for Chinese content producers and global audiences.

In the long term, Hengdian’s seeks to embrace new technologies and new storytelling formats to improve the production chain. Both at home and abroad, Hengdian will continue to transform as a driving force in China’s evolving screen industry, while providing valuable opportunities for talent and industry to grow.