Western Chinese films on show in Romania's capital

A Week of Western Chinese Films was started in Bucharest on Thursday evening, putting on show some new Chinese-directed films appreciated internationally by both audience and specialized critics.

The opening film "The Blood Hound" directed by Liu Jianhua led the list including "Crested Ibis," "Song of the Phoenix," "Born in China" and "Kung Fu Yoga."

The poster of "The Blood Hound". [Photo: IC]

This film presents a very representative picture of China's Northwest, said Wang Fubao, vice president of China's Silk Road International Film Festival (SRIFF).

"I hope this film will touch you profoundly and inspire you," Wang told the opening ceremony.

The SRIFF sponsored the film week with the help of Romania's Transylvania International Film Festival (TIFF). The two sides signed at the opening ceremony a strategic partnership agreement to encourage co-production and promote young film directors and actors.

Launched in 2014 in Xi'an, one of China's ancient capitals, the SRIFF is intended to promote film cooperation between countries along the ancient trade route Silk Road.

"We want to create a special section for the Western Chinese Films in TIFF 2019," said the TIFF head Tudor Giurgiu.

A film festival is also about "creating together new films. Obviously, the Romanian and the Chinese film industries both possess great values and we must work together to create new productions," said Giurgiu, adding that he envisages a co-production platform in the northwestern Romanian city of Cluj-Napoca, where the TIFF is held annually.

Sebastian Condurache, a young Romanian director, recalled his experience of working with a China-funded film exchange program, saying: "I chose China because I was interested in their culture. It's fascinating. It's a totally different world."

"Their cinema has a particular sensitivity that sees things differently, and another vision. You learn a lot with them," he said.