The 5th annual European Film Festival in China kicked off Thursday at Chaoyang district's Sanlitun Megabox cinema in The Village, allowing Beijing to sample just some of the continent's best full-length movies and short films.  

The selection of 26 films, from all EU member states except Latvia, mirrors Europe's diverse film genres and cultures. The program runs the range from dramas and romances to comedies and thrillers, while introducing the new faces of European cinema to Chinese audiences.

"The festival shows off European culture and Europe's best cinema. It gives Chinese audiences a great opportunity to get a closer look at European countries and experience European life," said film fan Chen Shiming, 22, as she entered a screening of the opening movie Fish n' Chips (2011) from Cyprus, which currently holds the revolving EU presidency. Enjoying her first experience of the festival, Chen was particularly eager to view German film Lessons of a Dream (2011).

The European lineup is a rare opportunity for local movie buffs to see world cinema on the big screen, as most of the 34 imported films allowed in Chinese movie theaters each year hail from the US.

"This is the year that we have had the most films passed by SARFT (State Administration of Radio, Film and Television)," explained Jaspal Channa, general manager of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in Beijing.

Some 12 movies will be shown at the commercial theater Megabox Sanlitun, Channa added.

An online film festival and a short film festival are new additions to this year's event.

The festival, which runs until November 30, was organized by the Delegation of the European Union to China.

After it wraps up in Beijing at the end of this month, the festival will also tour Chengdu in Sichuan Province, Shenzhen in Guangdong Province and Tianjin.

Spanish film Pa Negre (Black Bread) and Quartier Lointain (both 2010) from Luxembourg screen Monday, November 5 at 2 pm and 7 pm respectively at Sanlitun Megabox.

French movie Tous Les Soleils (All The Suns, 2010) will show at 7:30 pm at the Alliance Fran?aise. Films are screened in their native language with Chinese and, at some venues, English subtitles.

When: Until November 30

Where: Sanlitun Megabox and UCCA in the 798 Art Zone. Alliance Francaise, Instituto Cervantes, Goethe-Institut and Istituto Italiano di Cultura.

Admission: 15 yuan or free (depending on venue).