The Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF) Market kicked off today with approximately 850 film production and distribution companies and 1,617 registered buyers.

Comprising an international film trade market and the SIFF Project market, the event runs until June 19.

Exhibitors include Bona Film Group, the Japan External Trade Organization, the Italian Trade Commission, Shanghai Film Group, the Korean Film Council, Unifrance Films, Kantana and Wanda Media.

An international jury panel of director Sun Zhou and producers Philip Lee and Li Lie will select the Best Creative Project out of the eight previously announced finalists in the SIFF Project’s China Film Pitch & Catch section.

Another 22 previously announced projects will be looking for co-producers and financiers in SIFF Project’s Co-production Film Pitch & Catch competition. Buyers’ evaluations at the end of one-on-one meetings will decide which gets the Most Promising Project to Invest prize.

The market was preceded on the weekend by a Huayi Brothers’ slate launch including two new Jackie Chan projects, a new Doze Niu historical piece and a fall release date for Tsui Hark’s prequel Young Detective Dee: Rise Of The Sea Dragons.