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LONDON -- The 5th China Image Film Festival opened here on Tuesday to give the British people an opportunity to watch 20 Chinese new films, including crime movie Silent Witness, romantic comedy Finding Mr. Right?and cartoon movie Kuiba II.

The opening movie of the seven-day festival, held at Curzon Chelsea cinema and known as the largest Chinese movie festival in Europe, was historical blockbuster An End to Killing, which tells a story about war and peace.

"This year the festival is bigger and better, with more commercial movies," said Ivor Benjamin, chairman of Directors Guild of Great Britain. "It is a wonderful window of China."

China is currently the world's third largest film producing country with the number of new films and revenue of the film industry growing by 30 percent over the last decade. At the same time, China is the world's second largest film market.

"I hope that the festival is not only a platform to show the Chinese culture, but also a bridge for exchanges between film-makers from both China and the UK, so that they could enhance mutual understanding and future collaboration," said Xiang Xiaowei, minister counsellor of culture with the Chinese embassy in Britain.

During the festival, Chinese and British film makers will meet to discuss issues of co-production and cooperation. A film fair aimed at promoting Chinese film will also be held.

The China Image Film Festival, initiated in 2009 and held annually in autumn in London, is a platform for cultural exchanges between China and Britain.

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