The 7th Beijing International Children’s Film Festival has concluded in China. It was held from 26 to 28 October 2026 at Yanjing Institute of Technology. The programme included international film screenings, meetings with filmmakers, masterclasses and seminars on creating films for children and teenagers. TV BRICS served as the international media partner of the film festival.
A special BRICS+ section
featured works from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, as well as Kazakhstan, the United Arab Emirates, Iran, Vietnam, Egypt and Uzbekistan. The films explored themes of growing up, family relationships and children’s perceptions of the world.
“For me, children’s cinema is not simply a film genre but a cultural space that needs to be consistently protected and developed. Today, as artificial intelligence continues to change the world, it is particularly important for us to use children’s cinema to preserve our focus on people, our ability to feel and understand real life, and a responsible attitude towards the inner world of the next generation,” noted Film Festival Director Li Ge.
On 26 and 27 October, filmmakers met with students, held masterclasses on directing, screenwriting and cinematography, and discussed independent filmmaking and the use of generative artificial intelligence in audiovisual content production.
Participants discussed how to use new tools without losing sight of real life, children’s feelings and experiences. These issues are particularly important for children’s cinema, which not only tells stories but also helps children better understand themselves and the world around them.
The festival’s international programme served as a platform for exchanging experience and discussing prospects for cooperation between filmmakers from different countries.
“Film screenings, direct communication with their creators and professional discussions allow us to explore opportunities for cooperation based on mutual understanding. Especially as interaction between BRICS countries deepens, the festival seeks to use children’s cinema to build stronger and more lasting cultural ties,” the Film Festival Director emphasised.
The winners were announced at the closing ceremony. The Vietnamese film “Heading West” was named Best Film in the section for BRICS countries and their partners, while the Chinese film “A-Hong Next Door” won in the Children in Focus section. “Abracadabra” won in the Short Film category. The Chinese short film “Out of orbit” was recognised in the special animation programme.