The 12th Silk Road International Film Festival opened on Monday in Fuzhou, the capital of east China's Fujian Province.

Co-hosted by China Media Group and the provincial governments of Fujian in east China and Shaanxi in northwest China, the five-day festival is themed “The Silk Road Connects the World, The Film Festival Illuminates Fuzhou."
This year's festival has received over 3,500 submissions from 135 countries and regions, with international entries making up more than 92 percent of those.
A 13-member jury of distinguished filmmakers from China, Belgium, Italy, the United States, France, Indonesia and other countries, chaired by veteran Chinese director Chen Kaige, will award the "Golden Silk Road Awards" in 10 categories, including best film and best director.
Marking the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and Indonesia and the 70th anniversary of the historic Asian-African Conference, also known as the Bandung Conference, Indonesia has been invited as the guest country of honor, with a special Indonesian film week among the highlights.
The festival focuses on four key areas: international exchange, industry collaboration, cultural enrichment for the public, and cross-Strait integrated development.
Events include themed screenings such as "Silk Road Highlights" and "ASEAN Film Week," Belt and Road film industry collaboration and exchange activities, film carnivals, consumer fairs, and a short film showcase for young filmmakers from both sides of the Taiwan Strait.
These activities aim to create a citywide cinematic buzz, encouraging broad public participation, and promoting regional cooperation and coordinated development in the film industry.
The festival will conclude on Friday, when the winners of the “Golden Silk Road Awards,” including best film and best director, will be announced.