Silk Road Lights Film Event Debuts in South Africa

A landmark cultural program titled Silk Road Lights kicked off in Johannesburg this week, bringing Chinese cinema to South African audiences. The screenings launched at the Nu Metro Cinema in Hyde Park Shopping Centre under the organization of China Media Group with backing from China’s National Film Bureau. The event forms part of preparations for the 2026 China-Africa Cultural Exchange Year. More than 100 participants gathered for the opening, including Chinese Ambassador Wu Feng, South African government officials, cultural leaders, journalists, and students. Two major Chinese blockbusters, Pegasus-3 and Blades of the Guardians, were featured in the debut screenings. Ambassador Wu stressed that films serve as powerful bridges between nations and that Chinese movies are gaining increasing popularity in Africa. CMG Africa Director Song Chyaning reported strong box office performance for Chinese films this year, exceeding 1.45 billion yuan by mid-May. She explained that these screenings help African viewers better understand contemporary Chinese society and traditions. The enthusiastic response from the audience, marked by two minutes of continuous applause, underscored the success of the launch. Widespread media coverage by outlets such as the South African Broadcasting Corporation and Kenya Broadcasting Corporation extended the program’s reach to more than 100 million people across the continent.