LONDON, May 10 -- The Screening Week of China International Film Festival opened on Friday night in London, bringing ten popular Chinese films for British movie goers.

Following the first China International Film Festival held in London last December, the organizer plans to hold two screening weeks this year. The first week was launched on Friday evening, nearly two hundred filmmakers, businessmen and officials from China and Britain attended the opening ceremony.

During the first screening week, ten excellent Chinese films, including Lethal Hostage, The Grandmaster, American Dreams in China and Taichi 2, will be showcased for British audience.

"The screening week is launched under the background of 10th anniversary of Sino-British comprehensive strategic partnership and the fruitful results between the two film communities ... I believe that audience would get a glimpse of Chinese history and culture, Chinese livelihood and sentiment, profound changes brought to China after opening up, and colorful natural scenery in China," said Luan Guozhi, deputy director-general of the Film Bureau of China's State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television.

"Film is playing a unique role in enhancing China-Britain bilateral understanding and friendship," he said on the opening ceremony, adding that "I am confident that, with the strong support from governments and concerted efforts from both film communities, bilateral cooperation in film will achieve more on the basis of the existing progress, and in turn inject new vitality to the comprehensive strategic partnership, and write a new chapter to the friendly relations for our two countries."

"Britain and China have talked about potentially putting on screenings of Chinese films in London, for buyers or distributors in Britain, to try to encourage more Chinese contemporary cinemas into the British markets. If there are any young or old, or established Chinese filmmakers want to come to Britain, we can make it very very easy for them," said Amanda Nevill, chief executive of British Film Institute said.

"So, there's the British Film Institute, we can give them any advice they need, and we found an fantastic organization called British Film Commission, they will do everything they can to make it as easier as possible to get permissions and licenses to film in this country," she added.

Kong Xiangxi, chairman of the organizing committee of China International Film Festival, said the ten films would be showcased in some universities in Britain. "We hope we can provide an opportunity for young British movie goers, so that they can take a close encounter with the charm of Chinese film, and stimulate their interests in Chinese culture."

Kong said the second screening week would open in September, while another ten excellent films screened this year in China will be brought to Britain. An award ceremony of the China International Film Festival will also be held at that time.

The first China International Film Festival held in Britain in December last year, 15 Chinese films and a series of China-Britain film events were held.