娱乐英语新闻:Film fest brings European best to Beijing, Chengdu and Xi'an

BEIJING, Nov. 2 (Xinhuanet) -- The third EU Film Festival in China opened Monday night in Beijing with the screening of Lone Scherfig's Oscar nominated-movie An Education and Cypriot film Kato Apo Ta Asteria (Under the Stars).

For the entire month, Beijing, as well as Chengdu and Xi'an, will come alive with a showcase of 26 recent and popular films, presenting the new face of European cinema.

"With a lineup that features categories from romance, action, comedy and thrillers, all the films that we have selected in the festival are very interesting. Shot within the last two years, they are box office toppers in their own country, so that the Chinese audience will have a taste of authentic European culture," said organizer Christina Pernin.

A scene from Italian film Vincere.

Inaugurated two years ago in Beijing, the festival has rapidly grown in size and influence since it began. Organizers said that the first two editions of the festival were a huge success, with auditoriums constantly filled. They added that artistic films were also popular, encouraging them to expand the event.

Attracting 5,000 people in the first year and 14,000 last year, this year's festival will for the first time take place in three cities; Beijing, Chengdu and Xi'an and has extended to commercial theaters. Twelve films will be screened in a circuit at Beijing's Star City Cinema and Broadway Cinematheque MOMA, Chengdu's Stellar Yingdu Multiplex and Xi'an's Bona New Horizon International Cineplex. Admission to these films is still very affordable at 20 yuan ($3) a ticket.

Other titles will be screened at EU cultural centers and embassies in Beijing, including the French Cultural Center, Cervantes Institute and Polish Embassy, with free admission.

Each film will be shown in their original language with English and Chinese subtitles.