The 13th Silk Road International Film Festival has kicked off, bringing Xi'an residents a grand cinematic feast until Sept 23.

A total of 2,130 films from 139 countries and regions were submitted for competition and evaluation at this year's festival, marking a record level of geographical diversity. The main competition section features three categories: feature films, documentaries, and animations.

The festival's opening ceremony. [Photo/Xi'an news network]

Twenty-three shortlisted works were announced at the opening ceremony on Sept 19 and will compete for 10 Golden Silk Road Awards, including Best Feature Film, Best Director, and Best Actor; winners will be unveiled at the closing ceremony on Sept 23.

Guided by high-quality development, this year's festival has brought together top professionals from across the globe in film and television theoretical research, content creation, and talent cultivation to discuss the industry's future.

The Belt and Road Film Industry Development Dialogue, held on Sept 20, featured star guests including Hussein Fahmy, chairman of the Cairo International Film Festival; Russian director Andrey Volgin; and Isabelle Glachant, Greater China representative of UNIFrance. Centering on technological integration, transnational co-production, and industrial ecosystem construction, the event promoted cooperation between the Silk Road International Film Festival and other renowned film festivals worldwide.

Since tickets went on sale, audiences have flocked to cinemas. Ticket buyers on the first day rose by 8.2 percent compared with the previous edition. More than 80 special public benefit screenings priced at 9.9 yuan ($1.47) have won wide acclaim from film fans.

Beyond cinemas, the festival partners with four theme parks and 13 major commercial complexes to roll out "film+" activities, allowing ticket holders to enjoy discounts at over 600 merchants across the city.