The first session of Chinese Movie Festival in France was kicked off on Tuesday night in Paris with famous Chinese actor and director Jiang Wen, Chinese actor Wang Xueqi and French actor Jean Reno lightening the screen in Cinema Gaumont at the Champs-Elysees avenue.

The film Bodyguards and Assassins, directed by Chen Delin, opened the festival. Jerome Seydoux, chairman of French cinema association (Pathe), branded it as "a window for French public to know Chinese films."

Not only in Paris, from January 26 to February 8, some 12 selected Chinese films of different styles will also hit screens of Lyon, Toulouse and Versailles, for the first time held in four French cities simultaneously.

This festival aims to provide an opportunity for French audience to enjoy ordinary Chinese films and promote Chinese films in France, Chinese Ambassador Kong Quan said at the opening ceremony.

It also offered a platform for professionals in movie industry from both countries to strengthen exchanges, added Pu Tong, Chinese cultural counselor in France.

The Chinese film industry currently ranks the third biggest in the world with over 400 production companies and an output of over 400 films a year, according to La Peikang, vice director of the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT).