The ceremony included a cultural segment where young Chinese and Egyptian filmmakers delivered a bilingual reading of 'The Date with Cinema'.
The Chinese Film Week in Egypt has officially opened at Zamalek Cinema in Cairo, bringing together senior officials, filmmakers and an audience of around 300 people for a celebration of cultural exchange between the two nations. Attendees included Mao Yu, Executive Deputy Director General of the China Film Administration; Dr Ahmed Saleh, Director of the Egyptian National Centre for Cinema; and Zhang Yi, Counsellor at the Chinese Embassy in Egypt, along with other representatives from both countries.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mao Yu highlighted the shared heritage of China and Egypt as ancient civilisations and emphasised the role of film as a bridge for deeper cultural dialogue. He noted China’s rise as the world’s second-largest film market and expressed Beijing’s willingness to strengthen cooperation with Egypt in co-productions, film imports and festival programmes, encouraging wider exposure of Egyptian cinema to Chinese audiences.
Dr. Ahmed Saleh described China Film Week as a key cultural exchange platform between the two countries. He commended the rapid development of the Chinese film industry and expressed hope for expanded collaboration in film production, distribution and other areas, further enhancing the scope and influence of bilateral film exchanges.
Counselor Zhang Yi remarked on the steady growth in collaboration between Chinese and Egyptian film institutions in recent years, including mutual screenings, joint festival initiatives and talent exchange programmes that help build greater understanding between the two peoples. With China–Egypt relations reaching new heights, he said the Embassy will continue to promote cultural and people-to-people cooperation to reinforce the strategic partnership.
The ceremony included a special cultural segment in which young filmmakers from both nations performed a bilingual Chinese–Arabic reading titled The Date with Cinema, earning warm applause from the audience. Representatives then gathered on stage for a symbolic launch, opening traditional Chinese lanterns that cast a golden glow across the theatre—an image meant to reflect the “covenant of light and shadow” between China and Egypt and the deepening of film cooperation.
The event opened with a screening of The Lychee Road, which offered Egyptian viewers an intimate look at contemporary Chinese cinema. Director and lead actor Da Peng joined a post-screening discussion, sharing insights into the film’s themes and production and engaging with audience questions about Chinese culture and storytelling.
Running until December 13, this year’s Chinese Film Week features six acclaimed films: The Lychee Road, The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru, I Am What I Am 2, The Shadow’s Edge, Panda Plan and Dead to Rights. The selection spans historical drama, documentary-style works, animation, suspense and action-comedy, offering Egyptian audiences a broad view of China’s cinematic creativity.
Organised by the China Film Administration and the Chinese Embassy in Egypt, and hosted by the China Film Archive and the China Cultural Center in Cairo, the event is supported by the Egypt Film Commission and executed by China Ori Culture Group. As a flagship initiative of China–Egypt cultural cooperation, the Film Week strengthens ties between officials, filmmakers and audiences, expands the reach of Chinese cinema in the Arab world and lays the foundation for future festivals, exchanges and touring showcases.
Both countries are expected to build on this year’s programme by deepening industry collaboration and launching new cultural exchange initiatives that further reinforce their longstanding friendship.
