On November 4, 2024, amid the U.S. presidential election, the 14th New York International Filmmaker Film Festival announced the first batch of shortlisted films. The movie "WEDDING IS COMING," directed by Chinese director Shi Weiqiang, made it to the initial competition list. It's worth mentioning that this is the only Chinese film included in the list. The film is exclusively represented for international film festival submissions and overseas distribution by Sfilmmaker, a global film festival enrollment and award platform.

New York International Filmmaker Film Festival (IFFNY) is one of the leading platforms for international cinema, dedicated to nurturing artists who embody diversity, innovation, and creativity. It takes place annually in the iconic art center of New York City. Every year, IFFNY brings global premieres of films to New York, providing American audiences with a unique opportunity to explore international cinema. IFFNY's mission is to promote and assist in the development of international cinema and filmmakers, becoming a significant intersection point for international cinema cooperation and cultural exchange.

Sfilmmaker is the exclusive submission and selection platform for the New York International Filmmaker Film Festival in China. Each year, recommended Chinese films are selected, including last year's selections such as "Revenge" (directed by Zhou Lingyi), "Cancer" (directed by Han Yun Nian), and "Memory Ferris Wheel" (directed by Wu Jiali).

Introduction to the film "WEDDING IS COMING"

Film Title: "WEDDING IS COMING"

English Title: WEDDING IS COMING

Executive Producers: Shao Bingfang, Li Qun

Executive Planner: Tai Jianlin

Producers: Yang Ming, Yin Qiyang

Co-Producers: Li Qun, Liu Aiyun, Li Yifan, Liu Fengqiang

Executive Producer: Han Kaiyi Wang Qing

Producers: Yang Ming Xue Fei Li Yujie

Director: Shi Weiqiang

Writer: Xu Yunlian

Director of Photography: Yang Junpeng

Art Director: Jiao Yan

Sound Director: Bai Chuandong

Editing Director: Chang Zhichao

Music Director: Yang Shuo

Starring: Li Chengfeng Han Kaiyi

International Film Festival Exhibition Consultant: Sfilmmaker

Film Synopsis:

After many years of working in the big city, middle-aged youth Yu Shu returned to his hometown to start a business, which made his father, who cared about face, furious and his unmarried fiancée's mother, Jia Hongmei, very dissatisfied, intending to force Yu Shu and Durian to break up by demanding a "sky-high betrothal gift". The passionate Durian eloped for love, prepared for the wedding at Yu Shu's house, which further fueled Jia Hongmei's anger, prompting her to lead the whole family to travel thousands of miles to the man's house and cause a huge commotion. 

"This Year We Get Married for Chinese New Year" Director's Bio:

Shi Weiqiang, a director from Henan, China, graduated from the Director Department of Xinghua University in Beijing. He has directed films like "Three Strikes and Three Victories", "Family Reunion Dinner: Little Boy" "This Year We Get Married for Chinese New Year" "Dad and I Are Tablemates" , etc. He has been awarded for his work including Best Talented Director at the 17th London World Film Festival, Best Foreign Language Film Nomination, Tagore Film Festival Best Foreign Language Film Nomination, etc. In 2024, he was appointed as an artistic consultant by the Hebi Municipal Literary Federation in Henan Province, and in October 2024, the first all-engine digital human film in China, "Danggui," started filming.

""This Chinese film 'Getting Married This Chinese New Year' has successfully been selected for the 14th New York International Filmmakers Film Festival. This not only represents the recognition of the film's artistic and storytelling prowess, but also showcases the increasingly unique perspective of Chinese film creators on the international stage. Through its authentic portrayal of contemporary emotions and social phenomena, this film allows global audiences to gain a deeper understanding of the diversity and profound emotions of Chinese culture. We look forward to 'Getting Married This Chinese New Year' shining brightly at various international film festivals, and hope that the success of this film can further promote cultural exchanges between China and other countries, paving the way for more high-quality Chinese films to win recognition on the international stage."

Sfilmmaker— the official platform for submitting films to global film festivals, now has exclusive partnerships with 827 international film festivals for film submissions directly to jury recommendations, including official film submission authorizations from multiple A-list film festivals. It has already collaborated with various prestigious Chinese film institutions and schools, representing over 2435 Chinese films that have garnered awards at major film festivals including Cannes/Venice. The platform's official website is:www.sfilmmaker.com, WeChat for film selection team: joy2587866207, official mini-program search for Sfilmmaker.