The 14th Beijing International Film Festival (BJIFF) kicked off on Thursday in the Chinese capital, bringing together outstanding filmmakers from home and abroad to discuss movie development and promote cultural exchanges in the industry.
Members of the 14th Tiantan Award jury for this year's BJIFF, led by Serbian director Emir Kusturica as the jury president, attended the opening ceremony.
The Tiantan Award is the official competition section of the BJIFF. It aims to discover and present recent outstanding films from across the globe and encourage diversity in the film industry.
For this year's event, the Tiantan Award received 1,509 entries for feature films from 118 countries and regions, which has reached a new high. A total of 15 finalists were selected.
"This year's BJIFF will for the first time ever present a range of exclusive activities, such as the Film Season for Diplomats, a round table for film exchanges, the Yanqihu cinemusic festival, and the AI generation unit. Since this year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and France, a French film week will also be held, with 30 excellent French movies being screened to the audience," said Yu Junsheng, secretary-general of the 14th Beijing International Film Festival's organizing committee.
Over the course of the nine-day event, more than 240 domestic and international films will be shown across 27 theaters in Beijing, and in its neighboring Tianjin Municipality and Hebei Province.
Launched in 2011, the BJIFF has attracted increasing international attention thanks to China's booming film market.
14th Beijing International Film Festival opens to boost cultural exchange
14th Beijing International Film Festival opens to boost cultural exchange
14th Beijing International Film Festival opens to boost cultural exchange
At least 181 people have been killed in devastating flooding triggered by heavy rains in Kenya, the government said on Wednesday.
Government spokesman Isaac Mwaura said that 90 people were reported missing nationwide, and 124 people have been injured and are receiving treatment in various health facilities.
The heavy rains and flooding have displaced 188,000 people, prompting the government to establish a displacement camp to provide alternative accommodation, he said in a statement issued in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya.
The government has put in place measures to support evacuation and temporary shelter for those affected, with public spaces identified for temporary shelter and provision of essential supplies.
The Cabinet also disclosed that water levels at Masinga and Kiambere dams have reached historic highs. Masinga recorded its highest levels ever, surpassing those recorded on May 7, 2020. Similarly, Kiambere Dam registered its highest levels ever on April 26, surpassing the previous historic levels recorded on Nov 29, 1997.
A dam burst on Sunday night in the town of Mai Mahiu, about 60 kilometers north of Nairobi, killed 48 people and affected many others. Meantime, the resultant effects downstream, especially in Garissa and Tana River counties in eastern Kenya, could worsen the already dire situation, the Cabinet said.
Large swathes of land along Kenya's longest Tana River are currently submerged, displacing thousands of people and impacting lives and livelihoods.
Residents of the two affected counties and those living near other dams and water reservoirs must evacuate in accordance with the Cabinet's directive.
Rescue workers fear that the death toll could rise as the ongoing heavy rainfall is expected to continue this week, with floods and landslides predicted in some areas. Roads and bridges have been washed away, leaving several parts of the country inaccessible and disrupting business. The government's national multi-agency emergency response committee is working on various initiatives to help those affected by the floods.
Death toll from Kenya floods reaches 181, evacuations underway
