The event, the first China film festival ever held in Washington D.C., was cosponsored by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), the National Geographic Society (NGS) and the China State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) with support from the Chinese Embassy here.

"In honor of the visit of President Hu Jintao to our nation's capital, along with the celebration of the Chinese film industry's 100th anniversary in 2005, we thought it appropriate to provide a special forum to celebrate China's achievement in film," said Dan Glickman, MPAA Chairman and CEO.

"We are pleased to partner with the NGS and the SARFT in this endeavor and look forward to enjoying this exciting sampling of Chinese films," he said.

"We applaud the idea of bringing the focus on Chinese culture through some of their most recent and exciting cinema," said John Fahey, CEO of the NGS.

"On the occasion of the visit of President Hu Jintao, our partnership with the SARFT and the MPAA for the China Film Festival allows us to help film audiences experience the diversity of China in a way that only the movies can do," he said.

Zhang Pimin, visiting Deputy Director-General of the SARFT's Film Bureau, said the event will write a new chapter to promote the understanding and friendship between the two peoples and strengthen the momentum of exchange among filmmakers from both countries.

The opening ceremony was also marked by the presence of renowned Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi, as well as young Chinese directors Lu Chuan and Hu An.

The event, running from April. 17 through April 23, will showcase seven recently-made Chinese movies, including the internationally-acclaimed The House of Flying Daggers and Kekexili: Mountain Patrol.

Some of the movies will also be shown in Los Angeles during the period.