Cinema: A shared language between Greece and China

Chinese cinema has arrived on the big screen in Athens, as the 2026 China Film Festival in Greece opens at the Lais open-air cinema.

But this year's festival is more than just a week of screenings. It comes as China and Greece mark 20 years of their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership – and as both countries look to deepen cultural ties through film.

Eight contemporary Chinese films are being shown to Greek audiences, offering a glimpse into modern China through stories, action, history and emotion.

Opening the festival, Leonidas Christopoulos, Chief Executive Officer of the Hellenic Film and Audiovisual Center, said the event marks "a new beginning" in cultural dialogue between the two countries.

"This is a very good opportunity to mark a new beginning in our cultural dialogue and to strengthen the bonds between our peoples," he said.

The festival also marks a major new step in cooperation between the Greek Film Archive and the China Film Archive. The two institutions have signed an agreement running until 2030, covering film restoration, digitization, education and the exchange of expertise.

Chinese officials said the aim is to use cinema as a bridge between the two ancient civilizations.

"The eight films presented at this China Film Festival cover a variety of genres and styles," said the Executive Deputy Director General of the China Film Administration. "We hope these screenings will offer Greek audiences a richer and more colorful impression of China. May the bridge of cinema connect China and Greece."

The festival opened with Blades of the Guardians: Wind Rises in the Desert, bringing Chinese wuxia action to Athens. Actor and filmmaker Wu Jing also attended the opening, meeting audiences and adding star power to the event.

For Maria Komninou, Head of the Board of Directors of the Greek Film Archive, the festival gives the Athens public a rare opportunity to discover new Chinese cinema.

"Today, in this space, we invite the Athens public to discover contemporary Chinese film production through eight new films in their Greek premiere," she said. "This dynamic event marks the beginning of cooperation between the Greek Film Archive and the China Film Archive."

Beyond the screenings, the festival reflects a wider effort by Greece and China to build closer links through culture, education, tourism and youth exchanges.

China's Ambassador to Greece, Fang Qiu, said Beijing is ready to continue expanding cooperation with Athens across multiple fields.

"China is willing to continue deepening cooperation with Greece in film and television, culture and tourism, education, youth exchanges and other fields," he said. "Let the ancient civilizations of China and Greece shine with new vitality in the modern era."

From Athens to Beijing, cinema is becoming a shared language — preserving cultural memory, opening new conversations and adding fresh momentum to China-Greece relations.