On the afternoon of November 29, the grand opening of the "2025 China Film Week in Egypt" took place at Zamalek Cinema in Cairo, Egypt. Distinguished guests from both China and Egypt attended the event, including Mao Yu, Executive Deputy Director of the National Film Administration; Dr. Ahmed Saleh, Head of the National Film Center; Zhang Yi, Counsellor of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Egypt and Director of the China Cultural Center in Cairo; and Ahmed Badawi, Managing Director of the Egypt Film Commission. The opening ceremony was joined by over 300 audience sand approximately 30 Chinese and Egyptian media outlets.

Strengthening Ties: Deepening China-Egypt Cinematic Bond

At the opening ceremony, Mao Yu, Executive Deputy Director of the National Film Administration, stated that as ancient civilizations, China and Egypt share a profound cultural foundation for film exchanges. He noted that China has become the world’s second-largest film market and expressed China’s willingness to deepen cooperation with Egypt in areas such as co-productions, film imports, and screenings, promoting more outstanding Egyptian films to enter the Chinese market.

Dr. Ahmed Saleh, Head of the National Film Center, emphasized that the Chinese Film Week is a vital part of cultural exchanges between Egypt and China. He highly commended the remarkable achievements of Chinese cinema in recent years and expressed his anticipation for further deepening cooperation in film production, distribution, and other areas to continuously expand Egypt-China film exchanges.

Zhang Yi, Counsellor of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Egypt and Director of the China Cultural Center in Cairo, remarked that film exchanges and cooperation between China and Egypt have deepened in recent years, with fruitful results in screenings, mutual visits, festival collaborations, and talent exchanges, significantly enhancing mutual understanding between the two peoples. Against the backdrop of historically strong bilateral relations, the embassy will continue to promote cultural exchanges and cooperation, injecting new momentum into the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Egypt.

Opening Ceremony: Highlighting Cultural Interaction

The opening ceremony also featured unique cultural exchange segments. Young filmmakers from China and Egypt took the stage together, reciting "The Light and Shadow Between China and Egypt" in both Chinese and Arabic, conveying the resonance of shared aspirations for cultural exchange between the two peoples, which earned enthusiastic applause from the audience.

Following this, key guests from both countries participated in a symbolic lighting ceremony. As the guests gently illuminated traditional Chinese lanterns, warm yellow lights gradually brightened, symbolizing the strengthening of film exchanges and cooperation between China and Egypt in alignment with the theme of "The Promise of Light and Shadow."

The screening of the opening film, The Lychee Road, captivated the audience, immersing them in the charm of Chinese cinema. With its nuanced storytelling and exquisite production, the film showcased the allure of traditional Chinese culture and the high standard of contemporary filmmaking, resonating deeply with viewers. During the post-screening discussion, the film’s director and lead actor, Da Peng, shared behind-the-scenes stories, while audience members and media representatives engaged in lively exchanges, exploring the film’s themes and cultural connotations, further deepening their understanding of the work and Chinese culture.

A Cinematic Feast: Showcasing Chinese Films in Egypt

Running until December 13, the 2025 Egyptian Chinese Film Week will feature six outstanding Chinese films, including 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 selected films cover diverse genres such as historical drama, animation, detective and thriller, and comedy action, showcasing the creative strength and versatility of Chinese cinema and offering Egyptian audiences a rich and vibrant cinematic feast.

The 2025 China Film Week in Egypt is jointly organized by the National Film Administration and the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Egypt, co-hosted by the China Film Archive and the China Cultural Center in Cairo, executed by China Ori Culture Group, and supported by the Egypt Film Commission. As a flagship cultural exchange event between China and Egypt, the film week will not only enhance the visibility and influence of Chinese cinema in Egypt and the Arab region but also strengthen official cooperation consensus between the two countries in the film sector. Furthermore, it will facilitate in-depth exchanges and collaboration between filmmakers, providing sustained momentum for future cooperation in film festivals, film weeks, touring exhibitions, and screenings.

Qian Feng, Chairman of Ori Group, remarked that cinema is a cultural medium that transcends language. As ancient civilizations, China and Egypt possess profound cultural foundations that provide a solid base for cooperation in the film and television sector, along with vast potential for development. Moving forward, Ori will continue to leverage its resources in cultural industry operations and international cooperation. On one hand, it will promote deeper collaboration across the film industry chain, including creation, production, and distribution. On the other hand, it will actively explore diversified cooperation models such as co-productions, talent exchanges, and technical collaborations. Ori is committed to enabling more high-quality Chinese and Egyptian film and television content to transcend borders and resonate with audiences, contributing to deeper cultural integration and the reinforcement of traditional friendship between the two countries.

Looking ahead, both China and Egypt will use this film week as an opportunity to deepen cooperation across all aspects of the film industry, fostering more cultural exchange initiatives and ensuring that the friendship between the two nations continues to thrive through the power of cinema.