Chinese actress and singer Jin Sha has been appointed as a jury member for the main competition section of the 48th Moscow International Film Festival, which opened its official press conference on April 2, 2026. Jin Sha expressed her gratitude for the opportunity, stating, “I am deeply grateful to the Moscow International Film Festival and to the strong friendship between China and Russia, which has made this possible. I will do my utmost in every aspect of this work.”
She revealed that the collaboration was initiated through an invitation from her close friend Tian Min, who first invited her to participate in director Lan Can Zhao’s fresh film. “Because of this film’s selection for the festival, I simultaneously received the jury position, and I was very happy. I usually do not hesitate when opportunities arise, so I decisively accepted this invitation and this opportunity.”
Regarding her judging criteria, Jin Sha said she appreciates “wonderful ingenuity, attractive cinematography like oil paintings, the free will of protagonists, and their struggle against fate.” She emphasized that she does not impose many restrictions on genre or subject matter.
It was also announced that the film Sunshine in a Beautiful Place, starring Jin Sha and directed by Lan Can Zhao, will have its world premiere at the festival on April 17, 2026. The film is set in the countryside of Guangdong’s Chaozhou Chifeng Town and explores themes of homeland, family, and personal growth through multiple character perspectives.
Lan Can Zhao, the director, previously directed the short film Summer Sentence, which won the Best Short Film award in the Generation section at the 74th Berlin International Film Festival and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film at the 98th Oscars.
The festival also featured several Chinese documentaries, including Labor Returns Home, which competed in the documentary and short film competition sections.
Jin Sha hopes that more Chinese films will be seen by international audiences and that cultural exchanges between China and Russia will continue to expand.
