On 11 April 2024, H.E. Ambassador Zheng Zeguang and Counsellor Hua Mei, wife of Ambassador Zheng, attended the opening of China Film Festival 2024 in London. Luo Yang, Deputy Director General of the China Film Administration, Rupert Daniels, Director for Services and Skills at the UK Department for Business and Trade, along with more than 200 guests from China and the UK, also attended the event, and watched the film One and Only.
Ambassador Zheng congratulated the successful opening of the the Festival in London. He pointed out that films are a mirror of reality as well as an important vehicle for cultural exchange. Since the signing of the China-UK Film Co-production Agreement in 2014, the two sides have engaged in fruitful cooperation such as joint production, film exhibition, industry forum and talent training. These collaborations have played a positive role in enhancing the mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples.
Ambassador Zheng noted that the six Chinese films to be screened in the coming week will help British audiences learn about the various dimensions of the Chinese society. He hoped that Chinese and British film institutes will introduce more indigenous films to each other’s countries, and that British audiences will visit China more often and experience the lives of Chinese people and the development of the country.
Deputy Director General Luo Yang introduced the achievements of the Chinese film market in recent years, and noted that films can help British audiences get a greater understanding of Chinese culture and promote people-to-people exchanges between the two countries. China Film Administration stands ready to strengthen industry cooperation with the UK and welcomes high-end British films to be screened in China.
Director Rupert Daniels reviewed the past decade of UK-China film and TV cooperation and achievements, expressed confidence incloser cooperation, and looked forward to wider exchanges and partnership between the two countries.
The event was attended by a full house of guests and warmly received by the audience. During the Festival spanning from April 11 to 14, five additional outstanding Chinese films - The Wandering Earth 2, Papa, Creation of the Gods I: Kingdom of Storms, Lighting Up the Stars and Love Never Ends will be screened. All tickets for these films had been sold out before the opening of the Festival.
