The 2026 Chongqing International Animation Film Week opened on June 9 in Yongchuan district, Chongqing, bringing together global animation talent for cultural exchange and industry development.
Golden Camellia Honors jurors appear on stage at the opening gala of the 2026 Chongqing International Animation Film Week, Chongqing, June 9, 2026. [Photo courtesy of China Media Group]
The event is backed by China Media Group (CMG) and the Chongqing government, and hosted by the Chongqing Film Administration, the Yongchuan district government and CMG’s Chongqing branch.
Billed as China’s first international animation film festival, organizers said it celebrates cultural heritage, technological innovation and cross-cultural exchange.
Guests at the opening ceremony included cultural officials from China, Bangladesh, Brazil, Cambodia, Myanmar and Seychelles, as well as broadcasting and news agency leaders from Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Turkmenistan and Zimbabwe. International animation industry representatives, film and TV producers, tech companies, animators, scholars and animation enthusiasts also attended.
Jiang Haiqing, a member of CMG’s editorial board and chairwoman of China International Television Corporation, said the festival was part of a broader industry push under the “2026 Film Economy Promotion Year” initiative.
Launched by CMG, the China Film Administration and the Ministry of Commerce, the initiative promotes an integrated “film + cultural tourism + consumption” approach to drive industrial growth.
“The hosting of the Chongqing International Animation Film Week is not only a two-way integration of animation film and urban development, but also a sincere dialogue between Chinese culture and world civilization,” she said.
Wang Jiong, chairman of the Standing Committee of the Chongqing Municipal People’s Congress, said Chongqing’s rich Bashu cultural heritage, complete industrial system and well-established film and television ecosystem give the city significant advantages in developing the animation industry, with Yongchuan serving as a leading industry hub in western China.
He said the city would use technology to strengthen its animation industry, expand “film+” models into merchandise and immersive experiences, and export quality domestic animations to tell good Chinese and Chongqing stories.
A performance pays homage to the animated classic “The Monkey King: Uproar in Heaven” at the opening gala of the 2026 Chongqing International Animation Film Week, Chongqing, June 9, 2026. [Photo courtesy of China Media Group]
The opening gala traced the 100-year history of Chinese animation, with performances honoring classics such as “Ne Zha” and “The Monkey King: Uproar in Heaven” and previewing upcoming projects including “The Three Kingdoms: The Beginning,” “Master Zhong,” “Demon Agent” and “All Wishes Come True!”
At the opening ceremony, veteran actor Chen Kun was announced as image ambassador for this year’s festival. The jury for the Golden Camellia Honors, the festival’s main competition, also made a collective appearance on stage, including jury president Rob Minkoff and jurors Yin Hong, Cai Zhijun, Sheila M. Sofian and Cheng Teng.
This year’s animation week is built around four core sections: animation creation, technological innovation, industry integration and international exchange. Supporting events include animation masterclasses, industry cooperation matchmaking sessions, themed exhibitions, free public screenings and creative markets.
Running June 9 to 15, the film week will screen nearly 40 classic animated films at over 30 cinemas across Chongqing, with free outdoor screenings in commercial districts and public squares.
The lineup includes the Brazilian animated film “Teca & Tuti: A Night at the Library,” the 1957 Soviet animated musical fantasy “The Snow Queen,” the 1982 French sci-fi animated film “The Time Masters,” the Oscar-winning “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” and its sequel “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,” and all four “Toy Story” feature films.
Children perform at the opening gala of the 2026 Chongqing International Animation Film Week, Chongqing, June 9, 2026. [Photo courtesy of China Media Group]
The Golden Camellia Honors will be announced at the closing ceremony on the evening of June 12. A total of 501 animated works from around the world were submitted for the competition, with 45 titles shortlisted.