The 2024 China Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Film Festival, featuring China's top film awards ceremony, opened Wednesday in Xiamen, Fujian province.

Dancers perform at the opening ceremony of the 2024 China Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Film Festival in Xiamen, Fujian province, Nov. 13, 2024. [Photo courtesy of the China Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Film Festival Organizing Committee]

The four-day event will feature a variety of film activities, including the 37th China Golden Rooster Awards ceremony, red carpet events, film screenings and industry forums.

Xiamen has hosted the festival since 2019. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Xie Li, Party committee member and secretary of the Secretariat of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles, stated that the festival has evolved through the support of national movie enthusiasts and the support of Xiamen residents. He said the event had "innovatively developed, constantly radiating more brilliant light" while significantly advancing Xiamen's film industry and enhancing the city's cultural appeal.

Xie said that through organizing film events, the festival will continue to showcase excellent film works, commend outstanding film workers, and promote international cultural exchanges in film.

Speaking at the ceremony, China Film Association Vice President Deng Guanghui noted the significance of gathering in Xiamen during the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. He said the festival aims to leverage creative achievements to enhance cultural influence, promote artistic excellence and use the thriving film industry to boost regional economic development and improve Xiamen's urban landscape, contributing to China's cultural strength.

Actors Li Xuejian and Kara Wai light the Golden Rooster symbol during the opening ceremony of the 2024 China Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Film Festival in Xiamen, Fujian province, Nov. 13, 2024. [Photo courtesy of the China Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Film Festival Organizing Committee]

The opening ceremony featured a musical performance followed by actors and filmmakers presenting upcoming releases, including "Burning Stars," "731" and "Octopus with Broken Arms."

The opening ceremony also showcased the nominees. Six domestic films — "The Volunteers: To the War," "Endless Journey," "Viva La Vida," "One and Only," "Article 20," and "Johnny Keep Walking!" — are set to compete for the coveted award for best feature film. "Viva La Vida" leads with eight nominations, followed by "The Volunteers: To the War" and "Article 20" with seven nominations each.

The awards will also honor regular categories such as documentaries, animations, directors, actors and screenwriters, as well as distinctive award categories like the best mid-and-small budget films, children's films, and opera films. The nominees for best foreign language film include "Oppenheimer," "Mothers' Instinct," "Dune: Part Two," "Kim's Video," and "Challenge."

Eligible films were released between July 1, 2023, and June 30, 2024. The China Film Administration issued national release permits to 251 films during this period, reflecting the growing diversity in Chinese cinema. Winners in 20 categories will be announced at the Nov. 16 awards gala.

Filmmakers introduce their upcoming film "Octopus with Broken Arms" at the opening ceremony of the 2024 China Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Film Festival in Xiamen, Fujian province, Nov. 13, 2024. [Photo courtesy of As One Production]

This year's film festival will also feature multiple screenings of domestic and international films, including "Megalopolis" by legendary filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola and the critically acclaimed Indian film "Maharaja" by Nithilan Swaminathan. The much-anticipated Chinese film "Herstory" by Shao Yihui will also hold a premiere during the festival.

Thanks to Xiamen's proximity to China's Taiwan region, organizers have invited nearly a hundred filmmakers from Taiwan to participate. Various activities will be held throughout the festival, including Taiwan film screenings, exchanges, and a cross-Strait and Hong Kong-Macao youth short film event.

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