The 18th Tokyo International Film Festival dedicated a day to Chinese big-screen productions. The films are beginning to receive wider popular acclaim.

On Tuesday, the mainland productions Fish and Loach and Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles were screened in Tokyo to an enthusiastic response. Speaking before the screening, Wang Yi, the Chinese Ambassador to Japan, pointed out the role of the film festival in promoting Sino-Japanese cultural exchanges. Some Chinese actors and directors are also at the event. Renowned filmmaker Zhang Yimou is serving as chairman of the jury panel. He spoke highly of his collaboration with veteran Japanese actor Ken Takakura in the movie Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles. The movie was the opening picture for the Tokyo Film Festival.

(CCTV October 28, 2005)