The Eighth Silk Road International Film Festival will be held in Fuzhou, Fujian province from Dec 8 to 12 to promote Chinese films and culture to the world and strengthen global exchanges, cooperation and trading.

This year's festival will present the Golden Silk Road Award for best film, best director, best first-time director, best actress, best actor, best screenplay, best cinematography, best film music or visual effect, best documentary, and best animation. More than 400 films from over forty countries and regions involved in the Belt and Road Initiative, such as Russia, India, and Iran, have been nominated for awards.

Influential film stars, professional filmmakers, and representatives from film institutions from countries and regions involved in the BRI will attend the launch ceremony of the film festival, which will be broadcast live around the world.

In addition, this year's festival is expected to showcase the characteristics of the Maritime Silk Road, digitalization, and Fuzhou.

About 100 selected films will be screened in 11 cinemas in Fuzhou, as well as in other cinemas, universities, and outdoor squares in other cities in the province during the festival so that people can participate in the cultural festival.

Two forums themed on cooperation between Chinese and foreign films as well as the revolution of digitalization and films will be held during the festival.

A series of film market events such as the Belt and Road International Young Filmmaker Gala, the Film Project Venture Investment Conference, and the Silk Road Film Industry Alliance Activities will be held to further boost exchange and cooperation between the film industries in countries and regions involved in the BRI and to attract more investment to Fuzhou's film industry and cultural tourism sector.

Fuzhou in Fujian province and Xi'an in Shaanxi province have alternated hosting the Silk Road International Film Festival in the past seven years.

Poster of the Eighth Silk Road International Film Festival. [Photo/sriff.cn]