Past Editions
The 7thHainan Island International Film Festival
Ocean of Possibilities, Boundless Light
The 7th Hainan Island International Film Festival was co-hosted by China Media Group and the People’s Government of Hainan Province. Its main events included the Opening Ceremony, the Golden Coconut Awards competition and the Golden Coconut Forum, along with a film program marking the 50th anniversary of China-Thailand diplomatic relations and a film and television industry investment promotion and signing event, connecting industry resources with the policies of the Hainan Free Trade Port. At the Closing Ceremony and Golden Coconut Awards Ceremony, Best Picture went to Black Rabbit, White Rabbit.
- 4564Submissions
- 119Countries and Regions
- 30Films in Competition
Highlights
Masters of World Cinema in ConversationHuang Wen-ying, Juliette Binoche, Marco Müller and James Cameron shared their creative experience
Expanding International Cultural ExchangeA 2025 film program marking the 50th anniversary of China-Thailand diplomatic relations linked screenings with industry exchange
China Premiere of Avatar: Fire and AshThe China premiere of Avatar: Fire and Ash took place at the 7th Hainan Island International Film Festival
Young Talent and Industry CooperationThe 2025 Young Coconut Project featured its academy, short film training camp, feature project venture forum and market screenings
In Focus
Juliette Binoche- 2025 Festival Ambassador
- Masterclass Speaker
French actress. During the festival she gave a masterclass, sharing with the audience how emotion, body and intuition shape her acting.
Marco Müller- 2025 Golden Coconut Awards Jury President
- Masterclass Speaker
Italian film producer and curator. He has served as artistic director of the Venice, Pesaro, Rotterdam and Locarno film festivals, and was artistic director of the 4th Hainan Island International Film Festival in 2022.
James Cameron- China Premiere of Avatar: Fire and Ash
- Masterclass Special Event Speaker
Director of the Avatar series. He attended the China premiere of Avatar: Fire and Ash on Dec 8, and on Dec 9 spoke at a special masterclass event about the spirit and technical exploration behind the series.
- Lin Chi-lingLin Chi-ling
- 2025 Festival Screenings Ambassador
Actress, Screenings Ambassador of the 7th Hainan Island International Film Festival.
Key visual coming soonThe 8thHainan Island International Film Festival
The 8th Hainan Island International Film Festival will be held in Sanya, Hainan Province in December 2026. Please refer to announcements from the Organizing Committee for the schedule. A review will be added after the festival.
The 6thHainan Island International Film Festival
From Oceans With Visions
The 6th Hainan Island International Film Festival was hosted by China Media Group and the People’s Government of Hainan Province. Using film as a medium, it showcased Hainan’s charm and vitality to the world and sought new momentum for the development of China’s film industry.
- 4330Films Submitted
- 117Countries and Regions
- 20Partner Cinemas
Key Moments
- Luc Besson led the Golden Coconut Awards jury; the Georgian film Holy Electricity won Best Picture and the Serbian film 78 Days won the Grand Jury Prize
- Sophie Marceau served as festival ambassador, attending the Opening Ceremony, a masterclass and other events
- The HIIFF Open-Air Screenings were upgraded, turning popular sights in four cities and counties into outdoor cinemas
The 5thHainan Island International Film Festival
Ocean of Possibilities: New Forces in Film
The 5th Hainan Island International Film Festival brought outstanding films from around the world together in competition. Screenings continued the island-wide model, running in Haikou, Wanning and other locations as well as Sanya.
- 4018Films Submitted
- 109Countries and Regions
- 10Golden Coconut Awards
Key Moments
- Nuri Bilge Ceylan served as President of the Golden Coconut Awards jury; the American film Family Portrait won Best Picture and Best Artistic Contribution
- Pema Tseden won Best Director for Snow Leopard, and the multinational co-production Rapture won the Grand Jury Prize
- An outdoor viewing area and a film carnival were set up for the first time at the Luhuitou Scenic Area
The 4thHainan Island International Film Festival
Toward the Light, Together with Film
The Opening Ceremony of the 4th Hainan Island International Film Festival was held at Haitang Bay Square in Sanya. The festival is dedicated to strengthening international exchange and cooperation in film culture, advancing the film industry and encouraging film creation.
- 3761Films Submitted
- 116Countries and Regions
- 29Golden Coconut Awards Nominees
Key Moments
- The Golden Coconut Awards selection included 11 feature films, 8 feature documentaries and 10 short films
- Nine major forums were held, including the Hainan Free Trade Port Summit Forum, along with the 1st China Hainan Film Investment Summit
- Outdoor screenings expanded to four locations, reaching beyond Sanya to Haikou for the first time
The 3rdHainan Island International Film Festival
The 3rd Hainan Island International Film Festival was co-hosted by China Media Group and the People’s Government of Hainan Province, and opened at Haitang Bay, Sanya on Dec 5.
- 4376Films Submitted
- 114Countries and Regions
- 189Films Screened
Key Moments
- “Official Recommendations” were made in three categories: feature film, feature documentary and short fiction film
- 15 selected international films were screened online
The 2ndHainan Island International Film Festival
The 2nd Hainan Island International Film Festival introduced the Golden Coconut Awards competition, with three categories (feature film, feature documentary and short fiction film), and launched new industry programs including a venture forum and a film market.
- 8Screening Sections
- 518Venture Forum Applications
- 22Selected Projects
Key Moments
- The first H!Action Venture Forum received 518 applications from 17 countries and regions, and its 22 projects held 528 meetings
- The film market drew interest from more than 130 companies from 24 countries and regions
- Kiyoshi Kurosawa, Stanley Kwan, Asghar Farhadi, Simon West and others gave masterclasses
The 1stHainan Island International Film Festival
Aiming at year-round screenings, island-wide screenings, cinema for all and the full industry chain, the 1st Hainan Island International Film Festival set out to build a professional and international “festival that never ends”. It opened at Haitang Bay, Sanya on Dec 11.
- 100+Films in the International Showcase
- 30+Countries and Regions
- 8Screening Sections
Key Moments
- Eight screening sections were set up, including Cape International, Horizon International, Pearl Picking, Shell Gathering, Peking Opera Films and VR Films
- A beach cinema was opened and the program toured the whole island
- A showcase of new Chinese films for the market and a national exhibition of filming locations were launched