The 12th Silk Road International Film Festival opened on Monday in the coastal city of Fuzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province, running from September 22 to 26 with the theme "Silk Road Connects the World, Film Festival Illuminates Fuzhou."

The festival features 12 main events including the opening ceremony, the Golden Silk Road Awards, screenings from guest countries and outdoor showings.

A 13-member jury of prominent Chinese and international filmmakers, chaired by director Chen Kaige, will select winners in 10 categories including best film and best director. This year's awards attracted more than 2,800 submissions from 125 countries and regions, of which 1,850 came from Belt and Road partner countries – a record high.

To promote Fuzhou's tourism and cultural heritage, the festival named Chinese actors Xu Ruohan and Xia Zhiguang, along with Cambodian Princess Norodom Jenna, as cultural ambassadors.

They will participate in city tours and interactive events. On September 26, a film exchange will highlight local filmmaking, featuring seven major projects produced in Fujian that will be introduced to industry representatives.

The 11th Silk Road Film Festival was held in Xi'an, the capital of Northwest China's Shaanxi Province, from September 21 to 25, with the theme "Silk Road Connecting the World, Light and Shadow Illuminating Chang'an."

Focusing on cultural exchanges along the Silk Road, it received 2,065 films from 136 countries and regions last year.