Visitors are seen at the 9th Pingyao International Film Festival in the ancient town of Pingyao in north China's Shanxi Province, Sept. 24, 2025. (Xinhua/Chen Zhihao)

TAIYUAN, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- The ninth Pingyao International Film Festival opened in the ancient town of Pingyao in north China's Shanxi Province on Wednesday evening, with 53 films from 25 countries and regions to be screened.

Works from countries and regions such as China, Nigeria, Iraq, Norway, Japan, Iran, Brazil, Singapore and Bulgaria will make their debut in the Chinese mainland. Over half of the films will have their Asian premieres and 30 percent global premieres.

With the theme of "Meeting Point," the festival will run until Sept. 30, focusing on discovering and promoting exceptional works by young directors, especially those from emerging and developing countries.

Founded in 2017, the Pingyao International Film Festival is held annually in Pingyao, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site. It aims to enhance communication among filmmakers from all over the world to promote global film creation.

Over the past nine years, the film festival has attracted more than 5,000 filmmakers and 450 works from over 50 countries and regions, as well as 2 million tourists from home and abroad. ■

Visitors wait for the opening of the 9th Pingyao International Film Festival in the ancient town of Pingyao in north China's Shanxi Province, Sept. 24, 2025. (Xinhua/Chen Zhihao)