Chinese filmmakers promote May Day holiday lineup, mark Long March at 90

Chinese film authorities, producers and distributors gathered to promote films set for the May Day holiday at the China National Film Museum in Beijing on April 24.

Industry representatives attend a press event for May Day holiday releases in Beijing, April 24, 2026. [Photo courtesy of China Movie Channel]

The holiday season will feature 11 new films, including much-anticipated blockbusters "Cold War 1994," "The Devil Wears Prada 2" and "Being Towards Death."

At the press event, three Chinese films themed around faith were highlighted first: "Wan Tongshu," a biopic about a cultural guardian preserving Xinjiang's Muqam music; "Blood-Spattered Cliff," a war epic exploring Guizhou's revolutionary history; and "Missions to the Moon Part One," a documentary on China's space program.

Next up was Chen Sicheng's tearjerker "Being Towards Death," which follows a group of terminally ill patients on a life-affirming journey. Joining it on the slate: "If I Were You" explores emotional awakening with a light comedic touch; "Dear You" tells the story of ancestors from the Chaoshan region who ventured to Southeast Asia; and "No One Is Closer Than We" traces two strangers thrown together by a knocked-out tooth, exploring what commitment means in modern love. 

The thriller "Vanishing Point" weaves three criminal cases across Chongqing's layered cityscape, ratcheting up tension at every turn.

The Chinese lineup also includes two animated films. "A Story About Fire," based on an ancient Qiang ethnic myth, marks Shanghai Animation Film Studio's first rice-paper hand-drawn feature. "GG Bond: Race Through Time" opens a new chapter in the beloved series, blending racing with time travel.

Representatives for foreign films also took the stage. "The Devil Wears Prada 2" reunites the original cast, including Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway, revisiting the world of high fashion 20 years on. "Mortal Kombat 2" returns with upgraded visuals and a new round of its signature brutal combat.

"Michael" charts the early career of pop icon Michael Jackson, depicting his rise from the Jackson Five to his heyday in the 1980s. The Sudanese film "Goodbye Julia," a winner of more than 20 international awards, explores female solidarity through cross-class friendship. The documentary "Vermeer: The Greatest Exhibition" showcases more than 80% of the artist's surviving works, drawn from major museums worldwide.

Representatives for imported films present their titles at a May Day holiday press event in Beijing, April 24, 2026. [Photo courtesy of China Movie Channel]

Hong Kong films also feature in the holiday slate. "Once a Thief (1991)," a romantic classic directed by John Woo and starring Chow Yun-fat, Leslie Cheung and Cherie Chung, will be released on the Chinese mainland for the first time in 35 years in a 4K-restored version in both Mandarin and Cantonese.

"Cold War 1994," the prequel to the "Cold War" series, closed out the movie showcase. Director Leung Lok-man and several cast members took the stage to discuss the franchise's narrative structure. The film adopts a dual-timeline approach weaving together 1994 and 2017, deepening the story while filling in key plot points from previous installments.

The event also announced that China Movie Channel will launch a multimedia initiative titled "On the New Long March" to mark the 90th anniversary of the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army's Long March (1934-1936), using cinema to trace revolutionary history.

Chief director An Renyi said the initiative will bring together filmmakers, classic films and new releases for creative research, screenings and livestreamed events along the Long March route, revisiting historical stories and carrying forward the spirit of the march. The first stop will be Zunyi, Guizhou province, where Long March-themed films from the upcoming summer season will be assembled.

The event also featured a push for film-themed tourism, with representatives from Beijing, Shanghai, Guangdong, Guizhou and Xinjiang promoting travel routes tied to May Day holiday film locations under the "China Travel with Chinese Films" campaign.

Planned activities include themed flights and high-speed rail routes, movie ticket giveaways and travel discounts, on-location livestreams and social media photo challenges at filming sites.