A poster of the Chinese film retrospective exhibition [Photo/DCCFF's official website]

A Century of Enlightenment, a Chinese film retrospective exhibition, will kick off on Friday in the US capital Washington D.C. During the one week activity, a forum on Sino-US cultural and film exchange will also be held.

Sponsored by the D.C. Chinese Film Festival (DCCFF), nineteen Chinese films, which represent different stages of film development in China, will be screened in E Street Cinema in turn to celebrate the 110th birthday of Chinese film. Through the exhibition, Americans can get a deeper understanding of the history and characteristics of Chinese film.

In 1905, the first Chinese film, Dingjun Mountain, was produced by Feng Tai Photography Studio in Beijing. From motion pictures without sound to high technology big screen films, from black and white stories to colorful life, China has been through a vivid history of film production.

DCCFF organizing committee spent a whole year to carefully select the exhibiting films from hundreds of Chinese films, with the help from experts and scholars in the China Film Archive, Peking University as well as Beijing Film Academy.

On the screening list is Springtime in a Small Town, first released in 1948. After digital restoration, the audience can enjoy the enchantment of this representative of early Chinese film. Monkey King: Hero is Back, the highest grossing animated film in Chinese cinemas, will also make its debut in the US.

In addition, DCCFF hopes to bring about more new thoughts on Chinese films through the cutting-edge panel discussions in the upcoming forum. Several noted film production experts, worldwide Chinese film archivists and enthusiasts from local societies will attend the forum, such as Professor Li Daoxin from Beijing Film Academy and the producers of the Batman series.

Monkey King: Hero is Back will make its debut in the US during the exhibition. [File photo]

They will expand in-depth discussions on Chinese film history, the Chinese film market, the development level and problems of contemporary Chinese films, and how to realize the cultural exchange between China and the US through films. By then, the audience will also have the opportunity to compare notes with them.

According to Cai Yibin, president of DCCFF, the film festival was founded in 2011. They had successfully launched exhibitions in 2012 and 2014, which both drew public attention in the area and strengthened the influence of Chinese culture in the US.

Cai believed that "made in China" has enjoyed an excellent reputation worldwide, while the made-in-China cultural and creative industries are enlarging their popularity all over the world. Even the Americans have begun to notice Chinese cultural products recently.

"As a part of made-in-China cultural products, Chinese film covers both humanities and significance of the times. Even in Hollywood movies, Chinese elements are gradually increasing. More and more Chinese directors, actors and actresses are involving in the worldwide film industry," Cai said in an interview with Chinese media.

"As an important carrier of Chinese culture, film has shown its importance and effectiveness on spreading and exchanging Chinese culture. Foreigners can set up a comprehensive and objective understanding of China by watching qualified Chinese films. All in all, film can be a very effective way to enhance the soft power of China. That's just why we are launching such an exhibition," he added.

Representative Chinese films of different development stage in history will be screened during the exhibition. [File photo]

If you go:

September 25 (to kick off at 5:00 pm) - October 1 (to end at 9:30 pm)

The opening ceremony will be held at Naval Heritage Center, 701 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20004.

The film exhibition will be held at E Street Cinema, 555 11th St NW, Washington, DC 20004.

You can check the screening list and buy tickets through DCCFF's official website.