The Chinese Film Festival Munich is back! From 5 to 15 November 2026, we will present a diverse selection of recent productions from across the Chinese-speaking world for the 14th time. Under the motto “Between Light and Shadow: Encountering China”, the programme features nine films spanning a wide range of genres – from family drama, tragicomedy and romance to historical crime drama. Eight films will be screened at the Projektor auditorium at Gasteig HP8 from 5 to 8 November. The cinema programme will be complemented by an online selection available until 15 November.
This year’s selection focuses on personal relationships, social change and the search for one’s place in life. Many of the films explore the realities of women’s lives and tell stories of family, love, loss, self-determination and new beginnings. All films will be shown in their original Chinese-language versions with English subtitles. Join us and immerse yourself in the fascinating world of Chinese-language cinema!
Opening Night on 5 November 2026
On 5 November 2026 at 7:30 p.m., YANG Lina’s tragicomedy “It’s OK” will open the 14th Chinese Film Festival Munich at Gasteig HP8. The film tells a humorous and moving mother-daughter story in which traditional and modern values collide.
The screening will be followed by a film discussion. Afterwards, the audience can look forward to a special premiere: at the first-ever Chinese Film Festival raffle, 15 LEDVANCE “DECOR WOOD TABLE TOUCH” designer lamps will be given away. All visitors will receive a raffle ticket upon entry. The winners will be drawn after the film discussion and can take their lamps home that same evening.
Your Vote Counts: Audience Award and Prize Draw
Once again this year, you can vote for your personal favourite and help decide the winner of the 14th Chinese Film Festival Munich Audience Award. By casting your vote, you will also be entered into our prize draw. As a special highlight, we are giving away two CAISSA travel vouchers worth €250 each towards a Mediterranean cruise aboard MSC World Europa, as well as other attractive prizes. Taking part is well worth it!
The complete schedule and further information about the individual films can be found on the Chinese Film Festival Munich website.
We look forward to welcoming you!
About the Chinese Film Festival
Experience China on the big screen
In an age of economic globalization, foreign cultures also come within reach. You don't even need to leave your house to learn more about China these days: the medium of film can serve as a cultural mediator, and create access to foreign cultures and societies.
The range of current Chinese productions is huge. In recent years the Chinese film industry has undergone rapid development. China is now the second largest cinema market worldwide, with revenue of 20 billion RMB at box offices in 2013. By 2018 this revenue is expected to double. In 2001 the number of domestically produced films was less than 100, by 2013 this number climbed to more than 600. Cinemas and movie theatres around the country have more than 18,000 screens, which are visited by 600 million viewers.
There aren't very many opportunities to see Chinese films in German cinemas. Even the blockbusters rarely make it to the big screen.
Successful modern Chinese cinematographic works, with the original sound and subtitles
With the aim of bringing the local audience closer to popular Chinese films, the Confucius Institute Munich and the Institute of Chinese Studies at LMU Munich organised the "Münchner China Filmtage" (Munich Chinese Film Days) at the Monopol cinema three times from 2013 to 2015. The programme included successful productions such as "Aftershock", "Let the Bullets Fly", "American Dreams in China", "So Young", "The Grandmaster", "Coming Home", "The Continent", "Lost and Love", "Breakup Buddies", "Massage" and the Berlin International Film Festival award winner "Black Coal, Thin Ice".
In 2016 the Confucius Institute Munich significantly expanded the activities and scope of the film festival. Under the new label "Chinesisches Filmfest München" (Chinese film festival Munich), in 2016 we held the festival at the Gasteig for the first time. The audience enjoyed a top-class selection of the most successful films from the past year, in various genres. All films were shown with the original sound and subtitles. Fringe events such as panel discussions, expert talks, and the opportunity for professional exchanges between filmmakers from China and Germany gave the film festival important added value.
The first Chinese film festival Munich took place from May 25th to 29th, 2016, at the Gasteig (in the library auditorium).
The 11th & 12th Chinese Film Festival Munich showed nearly 30 different films each at the Gasteig and online. Access to the online films was provided via our streaming portal. A digital supporting program consisting of lectures and workshops offered viewers* an exciting and diverse complement to the film offerings. This hybrid form enabled a wider selection of films and nationwide participation. For this reason, the Chinese Film Festival Munich will also take place hybrid in 2025: at the Mathäser Filmpalast, at the Gasteig HP8, at the Kino Breitwand Gauting and online.
www.chinesischesfilmfest.de
More information about the Chinese Film Festival Munich will be announced here soon.
