Shanghai TV Festival Kicks Off with More Than 1,000 Magnolia Awards Submissions

The 31st Shanghai TV Festival kicked off with an opening ceremony at the Shanghai Exhibition Center on Monday, June 22, and will offer a diverse range of activities through June 26.

At the ceremony, Chinese actor Zhang Linghe was appointed the festival's Magnolia Youth Ambassador. Grateful for the audience's recognition and affection, Zhang said he would devote even more effort to delivering China's stories well and setting a positive example for young actors.

The Magnolia Awards competition consistently ranks among the festival's most closely watched events. This year, the awards received over 1,000 entries from 60 countries and regions, representing a 39.5% increase in submissions compared to last year.

Beyond European countries, emerging film and television industries in nations such as Egypt, Pakistan, Brazil, and Kazakhstan have also submitted works, further highlighting the growing international influence and global inclusivity of the Magnolia Awards.

Three jury presidents heading the major competition sections of the Magnolia Awards made a joint appearance, sharing their perspectives on the awards' selection criteria. Zhang Yongxin, the jury president of the TV Drama section, emphasized that the most valuable aspect of this award lies in its respect for artistic creation itself.

"Television drama is an art form deeply connected to the public," he stated. "It not only mirrors societal changes and real-life experiences, but also captures the collective emotions and spiritual essence of its era."

The Magnolia Awards Ceremony will be held on June 26 at the Lingang Performing Arts Center. Throughout the festival, 11 offline screening venues have been set up across the city, presenting nearly 30 outstanding television productions from home and abroad.

A restored version of the classic Brazilian series Escrava Isaura will also be screened to celebrate the China-Brazil Cultural Year. Lucelia Santos, the drama’s lead actress, expressed her excitement and heartfelt wishes for China-Brazil friendship during the opening ceremony.

"When this series was first aired in China, many friends told me that they first learned about Brazil through this show. That moved me deeply," she said. "Today, I am even more delighted to learn that it will be re-aired."

Regarding this television festival as a continuation of China-Brazil friendship, she hoped that more works would be created in the future to further strengthen the emotional bonds between the two nations.