The 14th edition of the annual Shanghai International Film Festival runs June 11-19, 2011.

Being one of Asia's biggest film events, this year's festival has attracted 1,519 films from 102 countries and regions. All of them are applying to compete for the top Golden Goblet award. Tang Lijun, the festival's general manager, says the number is a great increase on previous years.

Among the applicants, 16 films have been shortlisted for the competition. They will be screened during the festival with their crew and/or cast members meeting audiences in Q&A sessions. [See all nominees]

A seven-member jury, led by American filmmaker Barry Levinson, will decide the Golden Goblet winners for best feature film, best director, best screenplay, best actor and actress, best cinematography, best music and the Jury Grand Prix. [About jury members]

Winners were announced on June 19.

The festival will also present the Asian New Talent Awards. The aim is to discover and finance new filmmakers in Asia.

The awards are given in two categories - best director and best feature film. Each winner will awarded 150,000 yuan (US$23,109). Japanese director Shunji Iwai presides over this year's competition together with four other jury members: British movie critic Derek Elley,

Chinese actress Kwai Lun-mei, director Alex Law, and actor Xia Yu. Winners are scheduled to be announced on June 17.

A series of forums and master classes will gather industry heavyweights to discuss such topics as story versus technology, cross-cultural co-productions, women's power in film production and using new media to reach audiences. 

Movie buffs can expect to watch a wide range of 200-plus domestic and foreign films, which will be screened under 7 categories, namely, Official Selection, Tribute to Masters, Spectrum, Global Village, View China, Documentary, and Animation.

Films to be screened include "Pina", "127 Hours", "True Grit", and "In a Better World". 

This year's festival will launch a new section called Mobile SIFF, which is created to promote made-for-mobile short films.

Mobile SIFF encourages filmmaking amateurs to submit their work, and a jury panel will then select winners for best short film, best director, best creation, best drama, best comedy, best action, best animation and best documentary. The honorees will share a premium of 100,000 yuan (US$15,406).

Fifty films, some made by iPhone, have been nominated for the prizes. Chinese director Tsui Hark will lead actress Zhao Tao and Thai director Nonzee Nimibutr in selecting the winners, who are scheduled to be announced on June 18. 

Star Hunter is another new section, similar to the Shooting Stars project at the Berlin International Film Festival. Chinese actor-wannabes can submit their demos to compete for the 7 slots that give the winners opportunities to have international publicity.

The festival organizer will take the 7 winners to the Rome International Film Festival this October. Judges for this section are: Italian actress Maria Grazia Cucinotta, Chinese director Mabel Cheung and Vietnamese actress Tran Nu Yen-Khe.