On the afternoon of 29 November 2025, the Chinese Film Week in Egypt officially opened at Zamalek Cinema in Cairo. Mr. Mao Yu, Executive Deputy Director General of the China Film Administration, Dr. Ahmed Saleh, Director of the Egypt National Centre for Cinema, Counselor Zhang Yi of the Embassy of People’s Republic of China in Arab Republic of Egypt and other guests from both countries , together with an audience of about 300 people attended opening ceremony.
 
At the opening ceremony, Mr. Mao Yu noted that China and Egypt are both ancient civilizations, and that film exchanges deepens two countries cultural exchange. He pointed out that China has become the world’s second-largest film market and expressed its readiness to deepen cooperation with Egypt in areas such as co-productions, film imports and festival screenings, so that more outstanding Egyptian films can be introduced to Chinese audiences.
 
Dr. Ahmed Saleh, Director of the Egypt Egypt National Centre for Cinema, said that China Film Week has become an important pillar of cultural exchange between Egypt and China. He praised the remarkable progress achieved by Chinese film industry in recent years and voiced his hope that the two countries will further expand cooperation in film production, distribution and other sectors, steadily widening the scope and impact of mutual film exchanges.
 
Counselor Zhang Yi of the Embassy of People’s Republic of China in Arab Republic of Egypt remarked that film cooperation between the two countries has deepened significantly in recent years, with mutual screenings, joint festival programs and talent exchanges which build mutual understanding between the peoples in two countries. As China–Egypt relations reach new heights, the Embassy will keep strengthening cultural and people-to-people ties to further energize strategic partnership between the two countries.
 
The opening ceremony also featured a special cultural exchange segment. Young filmmakers from China and Egypt gave a heartfelt Chinese–Arabic reading titled  The Date with Cinema,winning warm applause from the audience.
 
Afterwards, the representatives from both countries joined together on stage for a symbolic launching ceremony. As they slowly opened traditional Chinese lanterns in their hands, a warm golden glow spread across the hall, echoing the theme of the China–Egypt covenant of light and shadow and symbolizing the further strengthening of film exchange and cooperation between the two countries.
 
As the opening film, The Lychee Road gave audiences a vivid taste of Chinese cinema, pairing subtle storytelling with strong craft to highlight traditional culture and the strength of today’s filmmakers. In the post-screening Q&A, director and lead actor Da Peng shared behind-the-scenes stories as viewers and journalists discussed the film’s themes and cultural background, deepening their understanding of the work and of Chinese culture.
 
This year’s China Film Week in Egypt runs until 13 December and features six acclaimed Chinese films, including The Lychee Road, The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru，I Am What I Am 2, The Shadow’s Edge, Panda Plan, and Dead to Rights. The line-up ranges from historical drama and documentary-style films to animation, suspense and action-comedy, giving Egyptian audiences a vivid sense of the range and creativity of Chinese cinema.
 
The event was jointly organized by the China Film Administration and Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Arab Republic of Egypt, hosted by the China Film Archive and the China Cultural Center in Cairo, executed by China Ori Culture Group, supported by Egypt Film Commission.
 
As a flagship event for China–Egypt cultural exchange, the China Film Week in Egypt expands the reach of Chinese cinema in Egypt and the greater Arab region, brings officials and film professionals from both sides closer together, and paves the way for future festivals, film weeks and touring showcases.
 
Looking ahead, China and Egypt will build on the Film Week to deepen cooperation across the film industry and launch more quality cultural exchange projects, further strengthening the friendship between the two countries.