Magnolia Showcase Offline Public Screenings｜Artistic and International Masterpieces Bring Citizens and Tourists to Shanghai's Cultural Landmarks

The 29th Shanghai TV Festival's "Magnolia Showcase" is currently underway, offering citizens and tourists the opportunity to explore Shanghai's cultural landmarks through a series of exceptional screenings. This event features a collection of masterpieces, blending international highlights with new domestic works, and has garnered enthusiastic participation from the public and TV enthusiasts who are flocking to various cultural venues across Shanghai to enjoy top global television productions.

At the Shanghai Grand Theatre, tickets for the British series INSIDE NO. 9 are in high demand. Over at the China Art Museum, the documentary PLANET EARTH III is drawing fans from all over the country eager to check it out. The Shanghai Library East Branch is hosting screenings of THE LEGEND OF HEROES, attracting not only middle-aged and elderly fans nostalgic for classic wuxia but also younger audiences eager to experience the new wave of martial arts. Meanwhile, at the Shanghai Jiushi Art Museum, the documentary VAN GOGH, THE MAKING OF A MASTER perfectly complements the venue's artistic atmosphere, delivering a rich visual experience... As Chinese TV productions increasingly “gain international recognition”, the Shanghai TV Festival serves as a cultural bridge, introducing global television masterpieces to Chinese audiences and fostering a mutual exchange of cultures.

Masters' Presence

The Unique Value of Offline Experiences and Exchanges

Many movie enthusiasts are familiar with and fond of Italian film director Giuseppe Tornatore's TIME TRILOGY: CINEMA PARADISO, THE LEGEND OF 1900, and MALÈNA. His 1980s film debut, THE PROFESSOR, has now been adapted into a series and has been shortlisted for the Best Overseas TV Series at this year's Magnolia Awards. Its screening at the Power Station of Art has attracted numerous fans and art lovers.

Vincent van Gogh is a household name worldwide, and his life story is nothing short of legendary. In 2024, ARTE France, in collaboration with renowned documentary production company Cinétévé, released the documentary VAN GOGH, THE MAKING OF A MASTER. This documentary employs a wealth of historical archives, artworks, and animated elements to unveil the little-known stories behind van Gogh's rise to fame, taking the audience on a "resilient journey" intertwined with humanity and history.

The screenings of this work at the China Art Museum and the Shanghai Jiushi Art Museum attracted a large number of art history enthusiasts. Audience member Xiao Yuan remarked, "The film takes a fresh perspective from Vincent van Gogh's sister-in-law, Jo Bonger, who met him only during the last two months of his life. She dedicated her life to ‘promoting’ van Gogh and his paintings, making him a posthumous success. The unique viewpoint avoids sensationalism and uses a wealth of historical materials and artifacts to analyze van Gogh, offering a rare and vivid viewing experience."

The legendary Chinese wuxia novelist Jin Yong needs no introduction for his IP. His classic adaptations have become iconic for generations, though some young people today find them outdated and view current remakes as inferior imitations. However, THE LEGEND OF HEROES series brings fresh innovations in plot, pacing, and narrative style that align with contemporary viewing habits, sparking considerable interest.

During screenings at the the Shanghai Library East Branch and other venues, many young attendees candidly expressed their enthusiasm: "Seeing the Shanghai TV Festival's screening information, even though I've watched some episodes online, I was eager to experience it offline with others. That's the true essence of offline screenings."

International Appeal

Popular Works Seeking Inspiration in China

On June 24, the highly acclaimed BBC series INSIDE NO. 9 hosted a screening and creator meet-and-greet at the Shanghai Grand Theatre. The British “creative duo”, Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith, joined the audience to watch the first episode of Season 1 and the sixth episode of Season 9, bookending a decade of INSIDE NO. 9 with its 55 episodes. The creators engaged with the audience, sharing fascinating behind-the-scenes stories.

The ninth season of INSIDE NO. 9 has already premiered to rave reviews in China, boasting a Douban rating of 9.3. As one of the most popular series in this year's Magnolia Showcase, tickets for the meet-and-greet sold out within a minute. At the event, some audience members arrived with suitcases, and many without tickets waited outside the theater in hopes of participating.

Steve Pemberton expressed his appreciation for the enthusiasm of Chinese audiences and committed to bringing more shows and performances to them. "Given the narrative style of INSIDE NO. 9, we are keen to learn more about traditional Chinese culture to inspire our future creations. Our interest has only grown since coming to China." Reece Shearsmith, meanwhile, showcased British humor by commenting on Shanghai's rainy season: "I love rain. Since arriving in China, it has been raining nonstop in Shanghai." Their remarks drew frequent laughter from the audience, creating a lively and warm atmosphere.

Equally well-received was the BBC documentary PLANET EARTH III, which took five years to complete. As the opening film of the Magnolia Showcase, the organizers screened it on June 24 at the China Art Museum, followed by a meet-and-greet with the creators.

Michael Gunton, the Executive Producer of PLANET EARTH III and Creative Director of BBC Studios Natural History Unit, has produced the NATURAL WORLD series and overseen more than 120 wildlife productions. His works, including YELLOWSTONE, DYNASTIES, and THE PLANET EARTH series, are well-known to Chinese audiences.

"PLANET EARTH III is a documentary about the sacredness of nature and various animal behaviors. It also explores the relationship between humans and nature, capturing many changes in animal behaviors." At the screening, Michael Gunton shared behind-the-scenes stories and his experiences. He expressed his gratitude to Chinese audiences, saying he was delighted to bring more stories about natural wonders and the fragility of nature to them. "We are also considering filming some of China's most beautiful and majestic natural landscapes."

The screening of PLANET EARTH III attracted a large number of documentary fans and animal lovers. Ms. Ling brought her 9-year-old daughter, Ren Wenting, specifically for the event. "My child loves animals, so we booked tickets for PLANET EARTH III. This year's selection includes many works we've never seen before, and the scale is larger than previous years, with many excellent foreign productions," said Ms. Ling.

After leaving the screening room, Ren Wenting said she loved PLANET EARTH III. "Watching this is more vivid and detailed than what we learn in school, and we don't usually get to see so many wild animals."

Cultural Tourism Integration

Enjoying Global Flavors at Iconic Landmarks

This year’s Magnolia Showcase at the 29th Shanghai TV Festival includes TV broadcasts, online streaming, and offline screenings. Each segment offers numerous highlights. For instance, the TV broadcast section made its debut on “satellite television” via Dragon TV, featuring the documentary JURASSIC WORLD: CAMP CRETACEOUS. The number of offline screening venues has expanded from 18 to 20, connecting well-known cultural landmarks such as the China Art Museum, Shanghai Grand Theatre, Shanghai Jiushi Art Museum, Shanghai Book City, and the Shanghai Library East Branch. The number of internationally renowned TV works has also significantly increased, providing vivid examples of “cultural tourism integration”.

The event's popularity can be attributed to the long-standing efforts of the Shanghai TV Festival, which has established a strong reputation among local audiences for its offline screenings, and to the abundance of high-quality works this year. On June 17, tickets for the offline screening guide activities were released, and within just 30 minutes, 17 out of 32 events were sold out. Within an hour, the ticket sales rate reached 81%, with screenings of INSIDE NO. 9, PLANET EARTH III, and VAN GOGH, THE MAKING OF A MASTER selling out within a minute. By June 20, all sessions were fully booked.

This year, the Shanghai TV Festival has collaborated with BBC Studios, Paramount, Tencent Video, and other domestic and international video platforms to broadcast and screen outstanding works such as INSIDE NO. 9, PLANET EARTH III, STAR TREK: PICARD SEASON 3, and QUEENS. The creators of INSIDE NO. 9 and PLANET EARTH III, as special guests, not only interacted with the audience at the screening venues but also participated in the documentary and overseas drama theme forums at this year’s festival.

"There are indeed many works from around the world this year, and watching these series on the big screen at the China Art Museum is a completely different experience from watching them on a TV or mobile phone at home," said Miss Li, who traveled from Yangpu District to watch Bluey Season 3 + Special Episode: THE SIGN at the China Art Museum on June 25 and happily took photos with the BBC puppets.

The deep collaborations with various parties have resulted in the further enhancement of the “international recognition” of the Shanghai TV Festival. Thanks to the country's vigorous promotion of high-quality domestic TV productions abroad and the allure of the growing domestic TV market, the international resources of the Shanghai TV Festival have expanded annually, significantly broadening its “global network”.

The expansion of offline screening venues can also be attributed to the deepened integration of "commerce, tourism, culture, and sports" in Shanghai, allowing citizens and tourists to immerse themselves in cultural landmarks, with public cultural services becoming more refined and branded.

"As an audience member, I feel really proud. The ability of the Shanghai TV Festival to attract excellent TV works from around the world is a symbol of Shanghai's international influence," said Miss Li. She looks forward to seeing more outstanding international works showcased in her city, adding, "The feeling of celebrating a festival at home is truly wonderful."

The 29th Shanghai Television Festival (STVF) is hosted by the National Radio and Television Administration, China Media Group, and the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government, and organized by Shanghai Municipal Administration of Radio and Television and Shanghai Media Group, with co-organization by the Administration Committee of Lin-gang Special Area of China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone, and special support from Shanghai Lingang Special Area Investment Holding (Group) Co., Ltd.