The shortlisted nominees for the 7th Hainan Island International Film Festival (HIIFF) "Golden Coconut Award" have been announced recently.

This ten categories of this year's Golden Coconut received a record breaking 4,564 entries from 119 countries and regions around the world; and, after multiple rounds of careful selection by the jury, a final shortlist of 14 feature films, 6 documentaries, and 10 shorts has been determined.

Covering twenty some odd countries and regions, the shortlisted works showcase a rich variety of creative works within a diverse cultural context. The films’ wide range of themes include everything from a reflection on the film medium itself and a challenge to the way we watch movies in theaters, to the emotions, lives, and growth of the younger generation in different cultural contexts; at the same time, it also demonstrates a deep concern for history and culture, and profound reflections on modern society and technological development.

It is worth noting that among the directors nominated for this year's Golden Coconut, over half of them are first timers. As a young international film festival, HIIFF's major focus is on bringing young creators who are only just now emerging on the world stage to the attention of Chinese audiences, so that the festival, Chinese audiences, and these creators may all grow together. That having been said, as the shortlist also includes masterpieces from middle-aged directors who are currently in their creative prime, and the latest works by several internationally renowned directors, a rich and diverse creative ecosystem is presented to people paying attention to the film festival.

It is understood that all the shortlisted films are being screened in China for their first time, and that many of these works will have their "world premiere" screenings on Hainan Island. During the film festival, some of the film's main creators will visit Sanya in person to interact face-to-face with Chinese film lovers, share creative insights, and jointly explore the present and future of film as an art.