A Sigh, a popular film in China, premiered in a well-established art house cinema in the British capital Friday, kicking off the biggest ever Chinese Film Festival in the country.

The festival, titled "Images of China," highlights recent developments in China's creative cultural history, said Marea Rawlings, manager of the ODEON Covent Garden cinema.

The cinema hosts the nine-film festival in London before the festival moves to Guildford, south of London and Liverpool, northwestern England.

"Our aim is to provide Londoners with an unrivalled choice of world cinema, including a wide variety of art house and alternative films," said Rawlings.

The cinema also applauded A Sigh, which explores the sensitive topic of an extramarital affair, as "one of the most touching and controversial films to come out of China in recent years."

Xu Fan, a well known Chinese actress who starred in A Sigh, attended the premiere Friday together with her husband Feng Xiaogang, also director of the film.

Other films showing include Missing Gun, Zhou Yu's Train, Life Show, Piano Dreams and 25 Kids and One Dad.

"The Chinese film festival we are celebrating this evening is by all means an important part of the cultural exchanges between our two countries," said Chinese Ambassador Zha Peixin at a warm reception before the premiere.

"The Chinese film industry, although a later starter, is winning recognition in the world," he said.

The festival will end on Oct. 24.

(People’s Daily October 11, 2003)