Russian film festival kicks off in Beijing, tours three Chinese cities
The 2025 Russian Film Festival has brought eight new Russian films to theatregoers in three Chinese cities – Beijing, Xining, and Lanzhou. The festival opened in the Chinese capital on September 1 and will run until September 12.
"Blood Type," a film about how orphans in the former Soviet Union were used as blood donors for wounded German soldiers during World War II, is among this cinematic extravaganza, which also includes the new Russian titles "Karuza," "The North Pole," "Blood Type,"and "ON i Ona."
The premiere of "Blood Type" recently took place in Beijing, resonating with the theme of 2025's commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. The film is set to be released in Chinese cinemas on Friday, September 5.
The opening ceremony of the festival was attended by China Media Group (CMG) President Shen Haixiong and Russian Minister of Culture Olga Lyubimova. Both delivered speeches that underscored the significance of the festival in fostering Sino-Russian cultural exchanges.
Shen Haixiong expressed confidence that Sino-Russian film cooperation would continue to deepen and expand under the strategic guidance of the two countries' leaders. He emphasized that this collaboration would make a positive contribution to the development of comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Russia in the new era.
Olga Lyubimova highlighted the role of film festivals in cultural diplomacy. She expressed her belief that the Russian films featured in this year's festival would deeply resonate with Chinese audiences, bridging cultural gaps and strengthening the bond between the two nations.
The Russian Film Festival kicks off in Beijing on September 1, 2025. /Photo provided to CGTN
This year's Russian Film Festival is an integral part in a series of events organized under the 2024-2025 China-Russia Years of Culture program.
In a reciprocal gesture of cultural exchanges, the 2025 Chinese Film Festival was successfully held in Moscow, Kazan, and St. Petersburg in May this year. The festival showcased eight outstanding Chinese films, including "Detective Chinatown 1900" and "The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru," which were both warmly received by Russian audiences, highlighting the growing appeal of Chinese cinema on the international stage.