Harare hosted the opening ceremony of the China Film Festival on August 5 at Westgate Movies, drawing a lively audience of film lovers, officials and creators to celebrate cultural exchange between Zimbabwe and China.
The inaugural festival began with a screening of Jackie Chan’s action‑comedy Panda Plan at 3:30 pm. The film was followed immediately by Jia Ling’s You Only Live Once. Entry was free but restricted to guests, adding an exclusive edge to the experience.
Zimbabwe’s Deputy Minister of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture, Emily Jesaya, served as the guest of honour. She underlined the festival’s broader role in strengthening bilateral relations and advancing Zimbabwe’s ambitions to revive its local film industry through cooperation with Chinese filmmakers.
Producer Belinda Musemburi praised the selection, saying that seeing Jackie Chan on the big screen made the event even more special. Filmmaker Isaac Madzivanyika added that film embodies culture and that such collaborations foster deeper mutual understanding.
Chinese Ambassador to Zimbabwe Zhou Ding addressed the gathering, calling cinema a universal language that transcends borders and fosters emotional connections by revealing each other’s histories, values and aspirations.
Organisers of the two‑day festival include the Chinese Embassy in Zimbabwe, China Film Administration and Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture. The event marks the 45th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries and features four Chinese films in total.
Panda Plan premiered in China on October 1 2024. It earned over ¥261 million (roughly USD 36.8 million) in its initial run. The film blends Jackie Chan’s trademark martial arts action with family-friendly comedy and follows a plot involving the rescue of a beloved zoo panda named Hu Hu.
This festival demonstrates the growing export of Chinese entertainment across Africa and underscores China’s strategic use of soft power through cinema in regions like Zimbabwe.
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