Beijing Intl Film Festival section aims to boost science film development

The China Science and Technology Museum in Beijing hosted the opening of the 16th Beijing International Film Festival Science and Technology Section and its annual Popular Science Film Panorama on April 20.

Organizers and guests launch the 16th Beijing International Film Festival Science and Technology Section and the Popular Science Film Panorama at the China Science and Technology Museum in Beijing, April 20, 2026. [Photo courtesy of China Science and Technology Museum]

Co-organized by the China Science and Technology Museum and the Chinese Association of Natural Science Museums, the section promotes the deep integration of culture and technology, aiming to build a platform for the exchange and display of science film technology, gather innovation resources and share industry information. Representatives from science museums and technology film enterprises as well as popular science experts attended the event.

Bi Jiang, vice president of Beijing Radio and Television Station, said the Science and Technology Section, established in 2018, has become an indispensable part of the film festival and a popular public science brand. This year's section demonstrates the unique value of film in science communication, he said.

Xue Li, president of the Chinese Association of Natural Science Museums, highlighted a popular touring program combining science and revolutionary films that is returning in 2026.

The program has been upgraded to mark the 90th anniversary of the Long March victory, featuring three sections — science films, revolutionary films and virtual reality experiences — including a special "VR Technology Long March" activity allowing the public to retrace the route.

Last year's campaign reached 143 institutions across 30 provincial-level regions, with over 120,000 screenings drawing nearly 1.75 million viewers and covering all 15 provincial-level regions along the Long March route.

The Long March was a strategic operation by China's Red Army while being pursued by hordes of Kuomintang troops between 1934 and 1936.

A 48-hour film creation camp launched at the event, with over 20 teams using AI-generated content tools to explore the theme "My BCI Dog 2045," guided by scientists, directors and AI specialists.

The event also screened a concept trailer for a popular science film on the career of Liu Dongsheng, an earth environmental science expert and academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Guo Zhe, director of the China Science and Technology Museum, outlined the development trajectory of China's science films and the future direction of the industry at the event. He also issued a call to film and television enterprises and science museums to jointly build a national science film library.

The Popular Science Film Panorama runs from April 20 to May 17, featuring films from 13 countries on topics including aerospace, wildlife protection, prehistoric life and the environment. Seven films will be screened free of charge, alongside industry salons, astronomy classes and parent-child events.