The 5th Annual China Women's Film Festival (CWFF) is now underway at various cultural centers in Beijing. As an ensemble of works by female directors, the festival aims to address gender inequality and raise awareness of the multitude of challenges that women face in general.

The festival presents over 30 foreign and Chinese films and documentaries under five themes: Violence and discrimination against women, queer and transgender women, female innovators, challenging stereotypes, and overcoming barriers.

Organizers said it also provides a platform for local and foreign filmmakers, academics and female activists to network and strengthen the role of women in the film industry.

"It’s weird because everybody thinks the cultural field is open and flexible, and it’s not. There is a lack of women in the cultural field, and especially cinema. But it's the same in theater and music. So we really need to have more voices of women, who express themselves and say things differently," says Marie Vermeiren, co-founder Elle Tournent, the Women’s Film Festival in Brussels, Belgium, which translates to "Women, turn your camera wheels."

Marie, who has been promoting female filmmakers for almost a decade now, was invited to speak at the 5th CWFF. She believes when a woman takes a camera, her point of view is quite different, and we deserve to have a richer and more complete cultural landscape with female contributors.

This message is clearly shared by the curators of the Festival, who have chosen Princess Su, a fictional female director, and a smart, brave and accomplished cartoon character as the festival's honorary ambassador. Li Dan, CWFF’s executive director, says he hopes youngsters today could draw inspirations from Director Princess Su, as super-heroines seldom exist in the cartoon world.

The week-long event will close on September 24.