A seven-day Israeli Film Festival started Monday evening in Beijing, offering ordinary Chinese people an opportunity to learn about Israeli films and culture.

A total of seven Israeli films will be shown during the festival, which was opened with the screening of Passover Fever, a half-hour short film by Israel director Shemi Zarhin.

The Israel ambassador to China Yehoyada Haim also attended the opening ceremony at the Star City cinema.

People in Chengdu and Chongqing, two southwestern cities in China, will also have the chance to enjoy Israeli films early next month.

Katriel Scholry, director general of the Israel Film Fund, said at a press conference before the opening ceremony that the film festival aims to promote the two peoples' mutual understanding.

The China Film Festival was launched last May in Jerusalem, Hefa and Tel Aviv, and was warmly welcomed and highly praised by local people.

"Film can be a source to learn about China, and we hope the festival is only a start," Scholry said.

(Xinhua News Agency July 26, 2005)