Organizers of the Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF) announced on Monday that the 25th edition of the event, which was scheduled to take place in June 2022, will be postponed to next year.

"Due to the recent COVID-19 epidemic, the SIFF organizing committee has decided to postpone the 25th Shanghai International Film Festival that was scheduled to take place in June 2022 to next year," read the public notice released on the festival's official website.

"We hereby extend our sincere gratitude and earnest apology to people from all walks of life who care about and support the SIFF. We will hold a series of themed events about the SIFF in the latter half of this year if the circumstances permit. We look forward to sharing the great experience of moviegoing and the art of moviemaking."