China Film Festival 2026 started at Nandan inaugurated by CG Xu Wei
Ambar Bhattacharya, Takmaa News, Kolkata, 19th APR 2026 : It is a great pleasure to be with you in Kolkata, the “City of Joy,” to inaugurate the 2026 Kolkata China Film Festival. On behalf of the Consulate General of China in Kolkata, I extend a warm welcome to you all. I also thank the Government of West Bengal, Nandan Film Centre, the China Film Archive, the China Film Art Research Center, and all supporters who made this festival possible.
Cinema transcends language and borders. Just as Indian films are loved in China, Chinese films are appreciated here. In the past years, we have been continuing to support Kolkata International Film Festival and Kolkata International Children ‘s Film Festival. Since I assumed my post, many friends in Kolkata have expressed a wish for a dedicated China Film Festival—and tonight, after ten years, it returns. As the screen lights up, we celebrate not only film, but also a heartfelt exchange of cultural and emotion between our peoples.
This time we present seven Chinese films of diverse themes and styles: stories of the human spirit, women’s journeys, love and companionship in later life, ancient Chinese myths, and the energy of striving youth.
Tonight’s opening film, Xuan Zang, is a China-India co-production about the eminent Tang Dynasty monk who journeyed to Nalanda over 1,300 years ago to pursue his faith. This movie is a landmark in our cinematic cooperation, and I hope you will feel its timeless inspiration.
As two great civilizations and dynamic economies, China and India are neighbors with growing ties. We are all glad to see China-India relations are improving, with more exchanges and co-operations at different level. This festival aims to connect us through storytelling—to share China’s landscapes, culture, and people, and to deepen mutual understanding. Friends, You are all most welcome to visit China -to see , to explore and to feel for yourselves.
Kolkata, home of Tagore and cradle of modern Indian art, loves cinema. I believe Chinese films will resonate here. May we see more co-productions, more festivals, and more dialogue—to learn from each other, strengthen friendship, and support the steady growth of our relations.
