The annual Chinese Film Festival kicked off amid a ceremony at the Russian Culture Centre in Kamalpokhari on Friday.  The weeklong festival, organised by World Cultural Net, will see the screening of eight movies. 

The event was inaugurated State Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Parshuram Tamang. The inauguration function was followed by the première of the Jingle Ma Cho Shing-directorial Hua Mulan.

“China has a large movie industry and with Nepal being a close neighbour, we could emerge as a wonderful shooting location for Chinese movies,” Minister Tamang said, addressing the opening ceremony. Nepal has served as a shooting location for Chinese movies in the past, including the 2013 hit Deng Feng Lai (Up in the Wind). 

Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Yu Hong, who was also present at the opening, echoed the sentiment, while adding that cinema makes for a great medium for the exchange of cultures and perspectives, making it an effective tool in strengthening bilateral ties. 

Speaking about the fest, coordinator Rajendra Rimal said: “We have been holding this film fest every year since 2000 with the goal of strengthening the cultural ties between Nepal and China. We have had a long history with China in terms of trade and politics but through the centuries cultural exchanges were really transpired. So, the primary motive of the fest is to promote bilateral cultural exchange and to let people know more about the Chinese society.” 

He also noted that the eight movies that are being screened are some of the biggest blockbusters of the Chinese movie industry over the past few years. Movies such as Hua Mulan, American Dream in China, City Monkey, and The Message, among others, will be screened during the festival.