People look at a poster of the China Film Festival in Sofia, Bulgaria, on May 17, 2024. (Photo by Marian Draganov/Xinhua)

At the China Film Festival in Bulgaria, six Chinese films are expected to captivate audiences with their rich themes and diverse genres. 

At the China Film Festival in Bulgaria, six Chinese films are expected to captivate audiences with their rich themes and diverse genres, exploring topics ranging from love and family to culture, tradition, and history.

The Festival, dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Bulgaria, kicked off here on Friday evening in the Cinema House.

The event, which will run from May 17-19 and May 24-26, provided an enriching opportunity for Bulgarian viewers to delve into Chinese society and culture, said Mao Yu, executive deputy director general of China Film Administration.

These films delicately portrayed Chinese family values and emotions, showcased vibrant Chinese folk art, and offered fresh interpretations of traditional Chinese culture, Mao said.

The festival is organized by the China Film Administration and the Chinese Embassy in Bulgaria, and co-organized by China Film Archive, with the assistance of the Bulgarian National Film Archive (BNFA).

Mao stressed the importance of boosting collaboration between China and Bulgaria in the film industry and encouraged the screening of more great movies from both countries for audiences in both places.

Rossen Spasov, deputy director of the BNFA, praised the festival as a chance to watch "six very special films" and urged people to check them out.

Victor Stoyanov, Bulgaria's Deputy Minister of Culture, said that this festival was a great addition to his country's cultural events.

Despite the distance between the two countries, their cultural exchange remained lively, Stoyanov said.