PYONGYANG, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- The 12th Pyongyang International Film Festival opened here Friday at the People's Palace of Culture.
In his opening speech, film festival organizing committee chairman Hong Kwang Sun said the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) hoped the festival would serve as a platform for the participating countries to deepen ties of friendship and exchange their experience in making films.
DPRK Vice Premier Kang Nung Su and envoys and diplomatic officials of 11 countries, including China, Italy and Germany, as well as officials from international film-related organizations attended the opening ceremony.
The festival will involve contests in full-length feature films, documentary and short films. Meanwhile, the participants will hold seminars and meetings to discuss and review films shown at the festival and exchange their experience in film making.
The festival, which is scheduled to close on Sept. 24, is the DPRK's only film festival. It has been held once every two years since it started in 1987.
