The stage of the opening ceremony of the 8^th Silk Road International Film Festival was shaped like a Fuchuan, a kind of large vessel popular in ancient Fujian Province, presenting a visual effect of “Galaxy-like Silk Road on water”. Photo by Liu Feng, Xinhua

Fuzhou, Dec. 9 (Xinhua/Liu Feng) -- The 8th Silk Road International Film Festival kicked off in Fuzhou on the evening of Dec. 8. The opening ceremony showcased the Mindu Culture of Fuzhou with a creative feast of light and shadows.

The opening ceremony was held in Minyue River Town, a cultural tourist resort in Fuzhou. The key visual of the stage was shaped like the saddle wall in Three Lanes and Seven Alleys, a historical and cultural block of Fuzhou, featuring the images of Fuzhou's banyan trees, bridges, pagodas and Water-side Performing Stage. Meanwhile, by using holographic projection technology, water screens, drones and light show, the festival offered an audio-visual feast of light and shadows to the audience. The sea waves, boat sails, lanes, alleys and other symbols of Mindu Culture on site all appeared in creative images. Together with the water-side stage harmoniously integrated with the background of the traditional Chinese gate tower, these visual elements fully reflected the charm of Mindu Culture and the imagery of the Maritime Silk Road.

In recent years, Fuzhou's cultural industry has been growing steadily, ranking among the top in Fujian Province, and its influence continues to grow. Through this film festival, Fuzhou will strive to build an international platform for film exchanges, and continuously deepen and substantiate the film and cultural exchanges among countries along the "Belt and Road" , thus contributing to the transition of Chinese film industry from emphasizing quantity to emphasizing quality.

This year's Silk Road International Film Festival is sponsored by China Media Group, Fujian Provincial People's Government and Shaanxi Provincial People's Government, and co-organized by Fujian Provincial Administration of Film, Fuzhou Municipal People's Government and CCTV-6 (the movie channel of China Central Television).

The opening ceremony. Photo by Liu Feng, Xinhua

The fireworks show at the opening ceremony. Photo by Liu Feng, Xinhua

The performance at the opening ceremony. Photo by Liu Feng, Xinhua

The performance at the opening ceremony. Photo by Liu Feng, Xinhua

The performance at the opening ceremony. Photo by Liu Feng, Xinhua

The Fuchuan-shaped stage. Photo by Liu Feng, Xinhua