The 3rd French Film Festival was formally kicked off at a grand press conference in Beijing on Thursday. 

 

The annual film feast will run from February 9 to 14, with events in Shanghai and Chengdu. The closing ceremony will be staged February 14 in Shanghai.

 

A delegation led by legendary French star Jean Reno attended the opening at the Peace Hotel, bringing Beijing fans the long anticipated film L'Empire des loups.

 

 

Seven films including The Child, winner of the prestigious Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival last year, will be shown with Chinese subtitles. 　　

 

All of the movies being screened in China are copies of the original movies.

 

Chinese and French cinemas have a long history of cooperation that can be traced back to the 19th century. With the development of bilateral ties in recent years, films exchanges have become more and more frequent.

 

(CRI February 10, 2006)