The opening ceremony of the French Film Panorama in China has kicked off in Beijing on Monday. Eight recent French feature films and one short film will be presented in ten cities across China and will end on August 31. French Ambassador to China Bertrand Lortholary said that this year is the 20th Croisements Festival and he hopes to continue strengthening cultural exchanges between China and France. Renowned Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi serves as the promotional ambassador for the event. Photo: Li Hao/GT

 
The opening ceremony of the French Film Panorama in China was held at the French Embassy in China on Monday. Eight recent French feature films and one short film will be presented in ten cities across China, with the event concluding on August 31. 

French Ambassador to China Bertrand Lortholary remarked that since the first edition of the French Film Panorama in China in 2004, the event has been an integral part of the "Croisements Festival," actively introducing French cinema to Chinese audiences and fostering cultural exchanges between the two countries.

"It is the 20th year of the French Film Panorama," Lortholary noted, adding that the famous French film The Pot-au-Feu directed by Tran Anh Hung will be screened at the Beijing Broadway Cinematheque as the opening film. The film was nominated for the Best Director Award at the Cannes International Film Festival. "We are delighted to have this opportunity to share French films here," Lortholary said.

Daniela Elstner, managing director of the French Film Union (Unifrance), told the Global Times on Monday that they selected the eight most popular and suitable films for Chinese audiences from a pool of 30 outstanding French films.

"The global film industry faces common challenges amid the post-pandemic era. People have become accustomed to watching films on their phones, altering the traditional cinema experience. I believe we need to rebuild the appeal of theaters and hope to promote similar film events in more Chinese cities in the future, engaging with audiences and sharing the stories behind film production," Elstner added.

Renowned Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi is serving as the promotional ambassador for the event. Zhang noted that this year marks the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and France. She said she hopes that more Chinese audiences will enjoy high-quality French films this summer.

"The first French film I encountered was Blue from the Three Colors trilogy, and I fell in love with French actress Juliette Binoche," Zhang said, pointing to the French Film Panorama poster on stage. "I particularly like this poster because it is full of childlike wonder and romance, rich in color, always full of the unknown but also full of passion - this is my impression of French films."

Over the past 20 years, the French Film Panorama has attracted numerous French filmmakers to China, including renowned actors such as Sophie Marceau, Jean Reno, Juliette Binoche, and Léa Seydoux. The annual French Film Panorama is a significant platform for cultural exchange between France and China, with previous ambassadors including well-known Chinese filmmakers such as Ge You, Yao Chen, Huang Xiaoming, and Ning Hao.