Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Paris, Pathé Palace, May 10, 2026
On May 10, 2026, Paris once again confirmed its status as the world capital of cinema by hosting the opening of the 11th edition of the Chinese Film Festival in France, an event that has become, over the years, one of the most important international gatherings dedicated to Chinese cinema outside of China. Held in the prestigious setting of the new Pathé Palace—a venue designed by architect Renzo Piano just steps from the Opéra Garnier—this opening day took on the air of a major diplomatic and artistic gathering, bringing together figures from French cinema, institutional representatives, and leading names in contemporary Chinese cinema united by a shared goal: to strengthen cultural ties between France and China through the art of cinema.
Our media outlet was thus able to cover the red carpet, the press conference, and the official opening ceremony, in an atmosphere blending Parisian elegance, a passion for cinema, and fascination with the spectacular evolution of modern Chinese cinema. Among the personalities in attendance were directors Anne Fontaine and Jean-Jacques Annaud, both ambassadors for this edition, as well as actress Isabelle Huppert, the festival’s guest of honor, whose international career perfectly symbolizes this artistic exchange between cultures. The opening ceremony also featured Ardavan Safaee, president of Pathé Films and co-president of the Chinese Film Festival in France, accompanied by Deng Li, Chinese ambassador to France, Qin Zhengui, Deputy Director General of the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television of China and Director of the China Film Archive, Olivier Henrard, Acting President of the CNC, Daniela Elstner, Executive Director of Unifrance, as well as director, screenwriter, and producer Jia Zhangke, a leading figure in contemporary Chinese auteur cinema. This prestigious opening concluded with a preview screening of Zhang Yimou’s film Scare Out, a futuristic spy thriller shot in Shenzhen starring Jackson Yee and Zhu Yilong, which is already establishing itself as one of the Asian cinematic events of the year.
Founded in 2011, the Chinese Film Festival in France has gradually established itself as a major cultural platform designed to bring the French and Chinese film industries closer together, while also introducing the European public to the diversity of a cinema still too often reduced to a few iconic works. This 11th edition, taking place from May 10 to June 30, 2026, in a dozen cities across France and its overseas territories, perfectly illustrates this ambition for openness and cultural exchange. Paris remains, of course, the symbolic heart of the festival, with screenings organized at the Pathé Palace, the Pathé Les Fauvettes, the Jérôme Seydoux-Pathé Foundation, and the Christine Cinéma Club; however, the event also travels to Strasbourg, Lyon, Brest, Toulouse, Marseille, Cannes, and Montargis, not to mention, for the first time, New Caledonia and Réunion. This nationwide expansion reflects a clear goal: to bring Chinese cinema out of specialized circles and reach a much wider audience, ranging from Asian cinema enthusiasts to those simply curious about various genres such as thrillers, animation, documentaries, science fiction, and historical dramas.
The festival is co-organized by the Chinese Cultural Center in Paris, the Chinese Film Administration, and the Pathé Group, with support from the Chinese Film Archive, the National Film Museum of China, and the Jérôme Seydoux-Pathé Foundation, under the auspices of the Chinese Embassy in France, the French Ministry of Culture, the CNC, and Unifrance. This Franco-Chinese institutional collaboration illustrates the growing importance of cinema as a diplomatic and cultural tool in relations between the two countries. The 2026 program impresses with its eclecticism and its clear commitment to showcasing all facets of contemporary Chinese cinema. The “New Releases” section is naturally the main attraction, featuring several films making their French debut. In addition to Zhang Yimou’s *Scare Out*, which blends high-tech espionage and neon aesthetics in an ultra-modern Shenzhen that at times evokes certain international cyberpunk productions, audiences will also be able to discover *The Lychee Road*, a historical comedy set during the Tang Dynasty centered on an absurd mission to deliver fresh lychees to the imperial court in less than three days—a concept that almost seems to foreshadow a logistical satire ahead of its time.
Paris, Pathé Palace, May 10, 2026
On May 10, 2026, Paris once again confirmed its status as the world capital of cinema by hosting the opening of the 11th edition of the Chinese Film Festival in France, an event that has become, over the years, one of the most important international gatherings dedicated to Chinese cinema outside of China. Held in the prestigious setting of the new Pathé Palace—a venue designed by architect Renzo Piano just steps from the Opéra Garnier—this opening day took on the air of a major diplomatic and artistic gathering, bringing together figures from French cinema, institutional representatives, and leading names in contemporary Chinese cinema united by a shared goal: to strengthen cultural ties between France and China through the art of cinema.
Our media outlet was thus able to cover the red carpet, the press conference, and the official opening ceremony, in an atmosphere blending Parisian elegance, a passion for cinema, and fascination with the spectacular evolution of modern Chinese cinema. Among the personalities in attendance were directors Anne Fontaine and Jean-Jacques Annaud, both ambassadors for this edition, as well as actress Isabelle Huppert, the festival’s guest of honor, whose international career perfectly symbolizes this artistic exchange between cultures. The opening ceremony also featured Ardavan Safaee, president of Pathé Films and co-president of the Chinese Film Festival in France, accompanied by Deng Li, Chinese ambassador to France, Qin Zhengui, Deputy Director General of the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television of China and Director of the China Film Archive, Olivier Henrard, Acting President of the CNC, Daniela Elstner, Executive Director of Unifrance, as well as director, screenwriter, and producer Jia Zhangke, a leading figure in contemporary Chinese auteur cinema. This prestigious opening concluded with a preview screening of Zhang Yimou’s film Scare Out, a futuristic spy thriller shot in Shenzhen starring Jackson Yee and Zhu Yilong, which is already establishing itself as one of the Asian cinematic events of the year.
Founded in 2011, the Chinese Film Festival in France has gradually established itself as a major cultural platform designed to bring the French and Chinese film industries closer together, while also introducing the European public to the diversity of a cinema still too often reduced to a few iconic works. This 11th edition, taking place from May 10 to June 30, 2026, in a dozen cities across France and its overseas territories, perfectly illustrates this ambition for openness and cultural exchange. Paris remains, of course, the symbolic heart of the festival, with screenings organized at the Pathé Palace, the Pathé Les Fauvettes, the Jérôme Seydoux-Pathé Foundation, and the Christine Cinéma Club; however, the event also travels to Strasbourg, Lyon, Brest, Toulouse, Marseille, Cannes, and Montargis, not to mention, for the first time, New Caledonia and Réunion. This nationwide expansion reflects a clear goal: to bring Chinese cinema out of specialized circles and reach a much wider audience, ranging from Asian cinema enthusiasts to those simply curious about various genres such as thrillers, animation, documentaries, science fiction, and historical dramas.
The festival is co-organized by the Chinese Cultural Center in Paris, the Chinese Film Administration, and the Pathé Group, with support from the Chinese Film Archive, the National Film Museum of China, and the Jérôme Seydoux-Pathé Foundation, under the auspices of the Chinese Embassy in France, the French Ministry of Culture, the CNC, and Unifrance. This Franco-Chinese institutional collaboration illustrates the growing importance of cinema as a diplomatic and cultural tool in relations between the two countries. The 2026 program impresses with its eclecticism and its clear commitment to showcasing all facets of contemporary Chinese cinema. The “New Releases” section is naturally the main attraction, featuring several films making their French debut. In addition to Zhang Yimou’s *Scare Out*, which blends high-tech espionage and neon aesthetics in an ultra-modern Shenzhen that at times evokes certain international cyberpunk productions, audiences will also be able to discover *The Lychee Road*, a historical comedy set during the Tang Dynasty centered on an absurd mission to deliver fresh lychees to the imperial court in less than three days—a concept that almost seems to foreshadow a logistical satire ahead of its time.
