Pisa Chinese Film Festival 2026: Four Evenings Celebrating Contemporary Chinese Comedy
The Confucius Institute of the Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies, the Far East Film Festival of Udine, and Cinema Arsenale Pisa present the 15th edition of the Pisa Chinese Film Festival, dedicated to the rich tradition of comedy in Chinese cinema.
From 22 to 25 June 2026, the XV edition of the Pisa Chinese Film Festival returns to Parco delle Concette, organised by the Confucius Institute of the Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies in Pisa in collaboration with the Far East Film Festival in Udine and the Cinema Arsenale in Pisa.
The 2026 edition, entitled "Laughter Keeps You Young", draws inspiration from the well-known Chinese proverb 笑一笑十年少 ("One smile, and you become ten years younger") and offers four open-air evenings dedicated to the discovery of Chinese comedy in its many forms. All screenings are free of charge, in the original language with Italian subtitles.
Having explored fantasy and science fiction, thriller and neo-noir, and more recently the blending of cinematic genres in previous editions, this year the festival turns its focus to one of the most popular and significant traditions in Chinese cinema: comedy. A genre that, beyond being one of the main drivers of the box office in the People's Republic of China, offers an original and often ironic perspective on the transformations of contemporary society — from family relationships to individual aspirations, from generational dynamics to the impact of digital technologies on everyday life.
The programme spans a range of styles and cinematic languages: from the romantic comedy of Jia Ling's box-office phenomenon Hi, Mom, to the international success of Ne Zha 2, one of the most-watched Chinese films of all time, through to the social satire of Yan Fei and Peng Damo's Successor. Closing the festival will be Zhang Yimou's Keep Cool, a sharp urban comedy from 1997 that stands as one of the celebrated director's least known yet most surprising works.
Programme
Monday, 22 June
9:00 p.m. | Opening Ceremony
9:30 p.m. | Hi, Mom by Jia Ling (China, 2021)
Tuesday, 23 June
9:30 p.m. | Ne Zha 2: The Rise of the Fire Warrior by Jiaozi (China, 2025)
Wednesday, 24 June
9:30 p.m. | Successor by Yan Fei and Peng Damo (China, 2024)
Thursday, 25 June
9:30 p.m. | Keep Cool by Zhang Yimou (China, 1997)
All screenings will take place at Parco delle Concette in Pisa. Admission is free, subject to venue capacity.
