FamilyLens International Film Festival

FamilyLens International Film Festival is China's first film festival dedicated entirely to the theme of family. Having successfully completed two editions, previously themed “Turning the Camera on Oneself” and “Reconstructing Family Memories,” we have expanded our exploration from Chinese family narratives of the early twenty-first century to encompass broader Asian contexts. As we approach our third edition, we invite more raw yet authentic portrayals of family life to build our collective FamilyLens Film Archive together. Currently holding nearly one hundred works, the archive welcomes filmmakers to draw from personal experiences and to reflect on life through the lens of family. We believe family imagery not only records and expresses, but also connects—creating an intricate, emotionally resonant network that links individuals and families, bridging our past with our future, documenting our history and memories.

We seek films that intimately explore the intricate relationships and complex emotions within and beyond families. Whether through observational documentaries of everyday life or innovative narrative techniques, we encourage filmmakers to present their unique family stories, redefine what family means, and reflect on what constitutes a family in contemporary society.

Festival Sections:

Competition
Selected submissions demonstrating unique perspectives and artistic exploration will enter our Competition section. Awards include Best Film, Best Director, Artistic Exploration, and Real-life Portrait. These films will be publicly screened during the festival and discussed at post-screening Q&A sessions.

Curatorial Programs
This section is invitation-based. We will collaborate with curators and scholars from around the world to organize thematic screenings and discussions exploring various dimensions of family, aiming to foster cross-cultural dialogues on family imagery. This curated section will collaborate with international curators and scholars to organize thematic screenings and panel discussions, constructing a cross-cultural dialogue around the multifaceted meanings of family.
This year, we spotlight a special program: “family Movies”—exploring artistic reinterpretations of personal family archives. We particularly encourage submissions of family videos, DV recordings, 8mm/16mm film materials, and related creative works. The curators will carefully select and program based on the submitted content.

Youth Filmmakers Program
We invite young filmmakers aged 18 and under to submit works reflecting on their personal growth, family relationships, and perceptions of the world through film. This program aims not only to discover emerging filmmakers but also to empower youth by providing a platform for self-expression. We believe every time a young person picks up a camera, they rewrite the order of the world.