The China Film Festival 2025 officially launched on May 23rd at Regent Street Cinema in London, offering audiences a four-day celebration of Chinese cinema focusing on WWII and China-British ties.
The festival’s opening screening was held at London’s iconic Regent Street Cinema, which is hailed as the Birthplace of British cinema. It is where the Lumière Brothers’ moving images were first shown in the UK publicly, in 1896.
A curated selection of four acclaimed films were presented at the China Film Festival 2025: The Sinking of Lisbon Maru, My Country, My Parents, The Composer, and Ne Zha 2.
Among the featured titles, The Sinking of Lisbon Maru and The Composer revisit touching stories from World War II. They were selected to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of the war, where China and Britain both fought against Japan. My Country, My Parents portrays the sweeping transformation of China over the past 80 years through the perspectives of different characters. Finally, Ne Zha 2, presents a beloved Chinese myth that blends tradition with modern storytelling.
The China Film Festival ran for four days from Friday, May 23rd.
During the opening ceremony, the Chinese Ambassador to the UK Zheng Zeguang delivered a speech. He noted that this year marked the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. Looking back at those tumultuous years, the Chinese and British peoples fought shoulder to shoulder against fascist aggressors, made huge sacrifices, and contributed greatly to the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War [WWII]. Zheng also highlighted the Lisbon Maru incident, where Zhoushan fishermen risked their lives to save British POWs.
He also expressed that the festival serves as a cultural bridge between China and the UK, using film to deepen mutual understanding.
Lu Liang, Deputy Administrator of the China Film Administration, emphasised in his speech that “films give voice to humanity’s aspirations for goodness and justice,”
He added that this year’s festival opens with The Sinking of Lisbon Maru to revisit the deep wartime friendship between China and the UK and highlighted that the upcoming programme will continue to showcase Chinese films reflecting the nation’s struggles and cultural richness.
Around 200 guests attended the opening ceremony and watched The Sinking of Lisbon Maru together, including Martin Albrow, Fellow of the British Academy of Social Sciences; John Mclean OBE, Chairman of the China Britain Business Development Centre; Stanley Johnson – Creator of Retracing the Journey of Marco Polo; renowned sinologist Frances Wood and family members of British POWs from the Lisbon Maru.
Julian Alcantara, nephew of Lisbon Maru victim Joseph Viotto, attended the event and described the documentary as holding a deep significance for him and many other families. “We knew that our uncle had been captured, we knew that he was on a ship, but we knew nothing more until this documentary” he said, noting that he and his family watched it several times.
As a film producer with 25 years of experience, he emphasised that “dialogue has to happen day in, day out, year in, year out” for China and the UK to find the right stories to tell together through films, highlighting cultural exchange as a path to shared narratives.
The China Film Festival 2025 is hosted by the China Film Administration and the Chinese Embassy in the UK and co-organised by the China Film Archive and the Nouvelles d’Europe Media group, with support from China UnionPay.
If you liked this article why not read: The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru Review
