The inaugural Toronto Chinese Film Festival, brought to life by the local Chinese community, officially kicked off on October 7 at the Greater Toronto Chinese Cultural Centre. Over the next five days, attendees can look forward to a diverse selection of six films from mainland China, Hong Kong, and Canada.

During the festival’s opening ceremony, distinguished guests from various sectors gathered to mark the occasion. The festival began with a screening of the opening film, “The 20th Line,” directed by the acclaimed Zhang Yimou. Additional highlights include the documentary “On Lion Rock,” the heartwarming tale “Hachi: A Dog’s Tale,” the popular comedy “Catching Dolls,” and the poignant narrative “The Gold Mountain,” which illustrates the experiences of Chinese laborers who constructed the Canadian Pacific Railway. Rounding out the lineup is the short documentary “Endurance,” which reflects on the troubling history of Canada’s exclusionary immigration policies from a century ago.

Huang Shimei, co-founder and co-chair of the festival, expressed her vision for the event, emphasizing that the Greater Toronto Area, with its sizable Chinese population and vibrant film festival activities, can greatly benefit from a platform that inspires the Canadian Chinese community and encourages cross-cultural dialogue.

The festival also features a short film competition aimed at fostering new talent among young filmmakers, with over a dozen entries competing for awards and cash prizes. Wu Junxiong, co-chair of the festival and director of “Endurance,” shared his hopes that the festival will draw larger audiences while nurturing the next generation of filmmakers.

Chinese Consul General in Toronto, Cheng Hongbo, underscored the festival’s importance, suggesting it will deepen the local community’s understanding of contemporary Chinese society and bolster cultural exchanges between China and Canada. He encouraged attendees to visit China to experience its dynamic changes firsthand, asserting, “A real, three-dimensional, vibrant China is far more vivid and exciting than any movie.”

The opening ceremony drew hundreds of attendees eager to enjoy the premiere film. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and federal senator Yuen Pau Woo extended their congratulations through letters and videos, expressing their hopes that the festival will enhance cross-cultural communication and foster multicultural development.

Festival organizers announced that all net proceeds will be donated to the Greater Toronto Chinese Cultural Centre and the highly regarded Chinese charitable organization, the Yikang Foundation.