13th Silk Road Int'l Film Festival to open in northwest China's Xi’an

China

13th Silk Road Int'l Film Festival to open in northwest China's Xi’an

2026-09-18 18:48 Last Updated At：19:17

The 13th Silk Road International Film Festival is set to open Saturday in Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, drawing entries from 139 countries looking to promote exchanges and showcase vibrant cinematic works.

The five-day event will center on the theme "Silk Road Connects the World; Light and Shadow Illuminate Chang'an." The festival will feature the opening and closing ceremonies, the "Golden Silk Road Award" competition, film screenings and an industry development forum. Since the global call for submissions began in May, the festival has received 2,130 entries from 139 countries and regions, the widest geographic reach in its history.

During the festival, more than 400 films will be screened in cinemas, on online platforms, at outdoor venues and on university campuses, with special discounted screenings for the public.

This year, the organizers will also team up with 13 commercial entities to stage a series of film-themed side events combining movies with dining, outings, entertainment and open-air markets. Filmgoers can enjoy discounts and other offers at participating merchants by presenting their ticket stubs. First held in 2014, the Silk Road International Film Festival is an international cultural exchange event under the Belt and Road framework, jointly hosted by China Media Group and the governments of Shaanxi and Fujian provinces, with the two provinces taking turns to hold the event.

Japan's August core consumer prices up 1.7 pct year on year

Japan's core consumer prices climbed 1.7 percent in August from a year earlier, staying below 2 percent for the eighth straight month, government data showed Friday.

The nationwide consumer price index, excluding volatile fresh food, grew at a slower pace than July's 1.8 percent increase as energy prices turned lower, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications said.

Core-core CPI, which strips away both energy and fresh food to gauge underlying price trends, rose 1.9 percent in the reporting month.

Food prices, excluding fresh items, rose 2.7 percent year on year, easing from a 3.0 percent gain in July. Higher prices for potato chips and other snacks were among the main drivers of the increase.

Energy costs, meanwhile, fell 0.7 percent from the previous year, reversing a 0.6 percent rise in July, with electricity and gasoline bills down 2.4 percent and 2.6 percent, respectively.