Xi'an, the starting point of the ancient Silk Road, is the host city of the 13th Silk Road International Film Festival. Some 2,130 films from 139 countries and regions were submitted this year – the widest reach in the festival's history. And something else is new in 2026: Egypt is the festival's first guest country of honor, in the year China and Egypt mark seven decades of diplomatic ties.

"Our grandfathers in China and Egypt were trying to do their contribution to the world of art and cinema," Egyptian animator Mohamed Ghazala said during an interview with CGTN's Zhang Meng. "That's why we are here in Xi'an – celebrating the Silk Road International Film Festival, which is bringing East and West to talk."