Chongqing - The 2026 Chongqing International Animation Film Week will take place from June 9 to 13 in Yongchuan District, according to a press conference held on June 3.
Under the theme "Boundless Creativity · Excelling Together," the 2026 Chongqing International Animation Film Week will take place from June 9 to 13 in Yongchuan District. (Photo/The Organizer)
Guided by China Media Group (CMG) and the Chongqing Municipal People's Government, and organized by the Chongqing Film Bureau, the People's Government of Yongchuan District, and CMG Chongqing Station, with co-organizers including CCTV, CCTV-6 Movie Channel, and CCTV Animation Group, the film week aims to position Chongqing as a new powerhouse in China's animation industry.
Under the theme "Boundless Creativity · Excelling Together," the festival features competitions, screenings, exhibitions, and public events that blend animation with cutting-edge technologies such as AI, virtual production, and motion capture.
At the core of the festival is the "Golden C
Rob Minkoff, the co-director of Disney's The Lion King. (Photo/Douban)
A total of 501 animated works from countries including the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Russia, Spain, and Brazil were submitted. Following a preliminary review, 45 works have been shortlisted. Among them, the Chongqing-made Phoenix in Fire is nominated for Outstanding Animation Film Music; and The Fourth Law by Ren Zhimin from Sichuan Fine Arts Institute is shortlisted for Outstanding Technical Innovation in Animation. Final selections will take place in Yongchuan from June 6 to 9, with the announcement of the Golden Camellia Honorary Award.
The Chongqing-made Phoenix in Fire is nominated for Outstanding Animation Film Music. (Photo/Douban)
The grand opening ceremony is scheduled for 19:00 on June 9 at the Yongchuan Technology Film Studio. It will blend Chinese and Western musical performances, staged acts, and orchestral interludes, tracing the 100-year history of Chinese animation through classic melodies. The ceremony will pay tribute to timeless works such as The Magical Brush, Little Tadpoles Looking for Their Mother, and Lotus Lantern, while introducing new animated films of the year.
The opening ceremony will pay tribute to timeless works like Lotus Lantern. (Photo/Douban)
The venue will feature water stages, mechanical technologies, AI imaging, and embodied intelligence, symbolizing the integration of animation and technological innovation.
The festival will also roll out five major public events:
- Animation Creativity & Technology Exhibition at Yongchuan International Convention Center, offering national IP interactions and XR immersive experiences.
- "One Movie Ticket, One City Tour" Film Consumption Season, distributing consumption coupons in partnership with financial institutions, with discounts on scenic spots and hotels for any cinema ticket stub in Chongqing.
- "Chasing Light and Dreams" Film Screenings – nearly 40 classic animated films will be shown at 7 cinemas in Yongchuan and 30 mainstream cinemas citywide, alongside free open-air screenings in commercial districts and squares.
- Animation Film Theme Market (June 9–21) around five major business districts including Huamao Center, featuring a "Travel Passport" stamp-collecting activity with gift packages.
- "Love Watching Movies" Carnival Lawn Concert on the evening of June 10 at Yongchuan Convention Center lawn, featuring childhood favorites such as Black Cat Sheriff, Lotus Lantern, and Journey to the West.
The choice of Chongqing for this international animation gala reflects the city's transformation from a popular filming location to a full-fledged creative hub. With its iconic two-river scenery and Bayu-culture, Chongqing has served as the backdrop for over 500 films including I Belonged to You and Better Days.
Chongqing has served as the backdrop for over 500 films including Better Days. (Photo/Douban)
The city is now shifting from a mere "shooting location" to a "creation hub," aiming to build a complete ecosystem covering writing, production, post-production, distribution, and derivatives. At the center of this ambition is the Western China Technology Film City in Yongchuan District.
Stage 2 of Yongchuan Sci-Tech Film Studio, the main venue for the opening ceremony. (Photo/Mei Yao)
Yongchuan has developed China's leading virtual production studios and an AI-powered filmmaking technology sector. Local enterprises such as Dawa Imaging Technology, which was named one of the 2026 National Top 30 Growth-Oriented Cultural Enterprises, have supported more than 140 productions, including the animated blockbuster Ne Zha 2, the Cannes-selected Resurrection, and this year's May Day box-office champion Vanishing Point (which grossed approximately $38.4 million, over the five-day holiday period).
Vanishing Point, champion of this year's May Day box-office. (Photo/Douban)
Guo Yan, Director of CMG Chongqing Station, said CMG has long prioritized animation content creation and strengthened the "CCTV Animation" brand. With the establishment of CCTV Animation Group in 2020, CMG owns major animation IPs including the Four Great Classical Novels (Journey to the West, Three Kingdoms, A Dream in Red Mansions, The Water Margin), Big Head Son and Small Head Dad, and The Adventures of Little Carp.
"We hope that through this collaboration with Chongqing, we can explore a new 'culture + technology' industrial pathway," Guo added.
Zhang Xiaomei, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Yongchuan District Committee and Director of the Publicity Department, noted that as a western vocational education base, Yongchuan is home to 19 universities and vocational colleges, 36 training bases for virtual simulation and 3D animation, and 4 industrial colleges. It has gathered 42 post-production and supporting enterprises, over 170 film-related companies, and more than 200 patents and intellectual property rights.
"If you have an animation dream, Yongchuan can equip it with technological wings and a 'super engine' for digital creation," Zhang said.
The film week is taking place in the first year of China's 15th Five-Year Plan, a period in which "new cultural productive forces" have been identified as a national priority. Animation film, as a benchmark sector for integrating culture and technology, is seen as facing unprecedented opportunities.
Li Peng, Executive Deputy Director of the Publicity Department of the CPC Chongqing Municipal Committee and Director of the Chongqing Film Bureau, said: "The film week will leverage events to gather momentum and boost the industry, deepen international exchanges and cooperation, fill gaps in industrial factors, and propel the animation film industry to new heights. We aim to accelerate Chongqing's transformation into a powerhouse of creation, production, and branding, building the western region's leading technology-film innovation hub and a highland for cinematic art."
The 2026 Chongqing International Animation Film Week is expected to draw industry professionals, filmmakers, and audiences from around the world, as the city positions itself at the forefront of China's animation revolution.
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