STORY: 5th Chinese New Year film festival kicks off in Malta
SHOOTING TIME: Feb. 2, 2024
DATELINE: Feb. 4, 2024
LENGTH: 00:01:47
LOCATION: Valletta
CATEGORY: CULTURE

SHOTLIST:
1. various of people coming and watching film
2. various of people taking part in prize draw

STORYLINE:

The fifth "Happy Chinese New Year" film festival kicked off on Friday evening with the Chinese film "The Rescue" at Malta's National Center for Creativity in Valletta.
   
Three more Chinese films: "My People, My Homeland," "A Little Red Flower," and "Hi, Mom" will be showcased during the festival, which will run through Feb. 20.
   
The festival is jointly organized by the China Cultural Center in Malta and the National Center for Creativity to celebrate the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, or the Spring Festival, which falls on Feb. 10.
   
Charmaine St. John, the mayor of Santa Lucija, said she is deeply impressed by "The Rescue," describing it as a "nice film." Given her background as a pilot, she found a special connection with the movie.
   
She said the dragon symbolizes strength while wishing "stronger and closer" relationship between Malta and China in the Year of the Dragon.

Charmaine Zammit, an education official from the Ministry for Education, Sport, Youth, Research and Innovation, was so engrossed in the film "The Rescue" that she decided to watch all the other three Chinese films. She also expressed the hope that cultural and education exchanges between Malta and China would keep strengthening in the Year of the Dragon.
   
Yuan Yuan, director of the China Cultural Center in Malta, emphasized the festival's role in presenting outstanding Chinese films to the Maltese audience and fostering a cultural connection through the cinematic experience.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Valletta.
(XHTV)