Annual international film festival staged in Pingyao

The opening ceremony for the 3rd Pingyao Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon International Film Festival takes place in Pingyao county on Oct 10. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The 3rd Pingyao Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon International Film Festival, or PYIFF, opened in Pingyao county on Oct 10, according to the organizers. 

Zhang Fuming, vice-governor of Shanxi province and Lyu Yansong, director of the Information Office of Shanxi Provincial Government, addressed the opening ceremony in the evening. 

Lyu said that the international film festival provided a better film watching experience for the audience. 

He also said it created a more effective cooperation platform for filmmakers -- through dialogues on Chinese civilization and world culture, the integration of modern film art and the ancient history of Pingyao.

As a result, it promoted mutual learning and development among international film practitioners and in the arts, Lyu added. 

Veteran Chinese filmmaker Xie Fei and Jia Zhangke, initiator of the annual Pingyao International Film Festival, jointly awarded Chinese filmmaker Zhang Yimou with 2019 Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon East - West Award, the top honor of the film festival, at the opening ceremony. 

The Neighbours, the Chinese part of the third BRICS film co-production, was screened in the Ancient City of Pingyao as the opening film of the festival. 

This year's film festival, which runs to Oct 19, will screen 54 films from 27 countries and regions. 

These will include the latest films by young and new directors and masterpieces by noted film directors.

The organizers said that apart from two special screenings, 56 percent of the films officially selected for the festival are world premieres and 75 percent are Asian premieres.