12th Silk Road International Film Festival to kick off in Fuzhou

　　The 12th Silk Road International Film Festival (SRIFF) will be held in Fuzhou, Fujian Province from September 22 to 26, organizers announced on Thursday.

　　The festival, under the theme "Silk Road Connects the World, Film Festival Illuminates Fuzhou," will highlight international cooperation, cross-Strait cultural exchanges, and the presentation of the Golden Silk Road Awards.

　　Expanding international cooperation 

　　This year's festival attracted more than 3,500 film submissions from 135 countries and regions. Around 100 selected films from 44 countries, including Russia, France, Italy and Iran, are set to be screened. More than 400 guests from 30 countries and regions are expected to attend the event, including filmmakers, cultural officials, and industry leaders.

　　Indonesia has been named the guest country of honor, coinciding with the 75th anniversary of China-Indonesia diplomatic ties and the 70th anniversary of the Bandung Conference. Indonesian films, cultural exhibitions, and industry forums will be staged to deepen cooperation in the fields of co-productions, technology, and market development.

　　In a move to strengthen Belt and Road film collaboration, nine participating countries will present their national film policies, and nine international film festivals will sign "sister festival" agreements with SRIFF. The Cambodia Asia Film Festival's China office will also be established in Fuzhou, creating a long-term platform for bilateral cultural exchanges.

　　Fuzhou as a cross-Strait cultural hub 

　　The festival will include a dedicated cross-strait film section for the first time, underscoring Fuzhou's role as a gateway for cultural interaction between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan.

　　The program will feature a short film showcase, an AI short film competition, Taiwan film promotions, and project presentations for young filmmakers. According to the organizers, these initiatives are designed to support Taiwan film professionals working in Fujian and strengthen long-term cooperation in the film industry across the strait.

　　Golden Silk Road Awards 

　　The festival's top honor, the Golden Silk Road Awards, will be decided by a 13-member international jury chaired by Chinese director Chen Kaige. Jury members include Indonesian director Garin Nugroho, Belgian cinematographer Matthias Delvaux, Italian director Gabriele Mainetti, and other renowned actors and filmmakers. The awards will be presented in 10 categories, including Best Film and Best Director.

Jury members / Photo provided to CGTN

Jury members / Photo provided to CGTN

Jury members / Photo provided to CGTN

　　The awards ceremony, scheduled for September 26, will also feature artistic performances and a handover ceremony with Shaanxi Province, which co-hosts the festival in alternate years.

　　Wider public engagement 

　　Beyond competitions and industry forums, the festival will hold more than 200 public screenings in 17 cinemas across Fujian, as well as outdoor shows in historic districts such as Sanfang Qixiang and Yantai Mountain. The screenings, together with cultural fairs and other themed tourism events, aim to bring the festival closer to the public.