Chinese Ambassador to Australia Xiao Qian (3rd R), Chinese Consul-General in Melbourne Fang Xinwen (3rd L), Hobart City Council Alderman Louise Bloomfield (2nd L), together with other representatives from the Chinese and Australian sides, press the start buttons to kick off the 2024 Hobart Chinese Film Week in Hobart of the southeast Australian island state of Tasmania, Oct. 31, 2024. The 2024 Hobart Chinese Film Week, jointly organized by the Chinese Embassy in Australia and the Chinese Consulate-General in Melbourne, will showcase a diverse array of films, from thrilling adventures and touching family dramas to vibrant animations and sweeping historical epics. (Photo by Zhang Na/Xinhua)

The 2024 Hobart Chinese Film Week was opened on Thursday in the southeast Australian island state of Tasmania, marking the third year of this event in Hobart, the state capital.

Chinese Consul-General in Melbourne Fang Xinwen told the opening ceremony that he hopes the films presented will inspire a deeper appreciation for Chinese culture, spark curiosity and foster stronger bonds between the two peoples.

Through these stories, Australian audiences are invited to experience the richness of Chinese society, its history, and its values, allowing for a deeper understanding of China's journey and aspirations, he said.

The 2024 Hobart Chinese Film Week, jointly organized by the Chinese Embassy in Australia and the Chinese Consulate-General in Melbourne, will showcase a diverse array of films, from thrilling adventures and touching family dramas to vibrant animations and sweeping historical epics.

Events like this support Hobart's vibrant cultural scene, and cultural exchanges like this celebration bring new perspectives and ideas, fostering openness, tolerance and mutual understanding, said Hobart City Council Alderman Louise Bloomfield.

The Chinese Film Week was kicked off when Chinese Ambassador to Australia Xiao Qian, together with other representatives from the Chinese and Australian sides, pressed the start buttons.

Thursday's opening night film was The Captain, a powerful tale of courage, determination and resilience based on the real-life incident of China's Sichuan Airlines Flight 3U8633 on May 14, 2018.