On April 10, the press conference for the 20th edition of the Croisements festival was held at the French Embassy in China.
All guests at the press conference
Bertrand Lortholary, French Ambassador to China, delivered the opening speech, recalling that the year 2026 marks the symbolic milestone of the festival’s twenty years. Born in the wake of the France-China Cross Years (2003-2005), Croisements has established itself today as the largest French artistic festival abroad and the largest foreign festival in China.
To celebrate this anniversary, the visual identity of this edition pays homage to the “porcelain wedding”. This material, emblem of exchanges between Europe and China, still symbolizes today the cultural links that the festival continues to weave between France and China. Faithful to its original ambition, Croisements will deploy an abundant program this year: more than three hundred events will bring vibrancy to 44 Chinese cities.
Bertrand Lortholary delivers the opening speech of the press conference.
“Twenty years after its creation, Croisements continues to cultivate what makes its identity: building bridges between France and China, creating a dialogue between imaginations and offering a space where artists and audiences from both countries can meet, discover each other and invent new forms of creation together,” underlined the ambassador.
Xin Zhilei, festival godmother
Xin Zhilei, Chinese actress, was named godmother of the festival. Very moved by this distinction, she shared her deep attachment to French culture: “I deeply admire cinema and this refined art of living. For me, Croisements is much more than an artistic showcase; it is a bridge that allows you to discover others in a direct and authentic way. » Asked about her sources of inspiration, the actress cited masterpieces such as Le Fabuleux Destin d’Amélie Poulain or Intouchables, while expressing her immense admiration for Isabelle Huppert. She said she was particularly fascinated by the complexity of the characters that the latter embodies in films like Elle.
Recalling her past experiences, she shared a poetic anecdote: “A particularly vivid memory goes back to last winter, when it was snowing in France, and I saw my face on a magazine cover in the French streets. I had already had many experiences filming in France, but this was the first time I saw my image appear in this way in the city. It gave me a feeling of special and unique connection with this country. » As a wish for the future, she confided her wish to one day play the role of a Chinese woman living in France, in order to extend this intercultural dialogue on screen.
Bertrand Lortholary awards the certificate of godmother of the 20th edition of the Croisements festival to Xin Zhilei.
Florent Aydalot presents the key events of this edition of the Croisements festival. (Photos provided by the French Institute of Beijing)
Florent Aydalot, Minister Counselor for Cultural, Educational and Scientific Affairs at the French Embassy in China, revealed the highlights of this edition. Classical music will be in the spotlight with the exceptional arrival of three prestigious orchestras: the Orchester de Paris, the Radio France Philharmonic Orchestra and the Orchestra of the Royal Opera of the Palace of Versailles. The visual arts will not be left out, mixing secular institutions (Manufactures nationale de Sèvres and Mobilier national) and leading figures of contemporary art such as Jean-Michel Othoniel, Mimosa Echard and Cyril Debon. On the occasion of the bicentenary of the invention of photography, the festival will pay vibrant tribute to the eighth art with a selection of Niépce Prize winners.
Immersive experiences, a booming field, will also occupy a special place, thanks to co-productions which will highlight French know-how. On the live performance side, the programming will mix theater, dance and musicals in a resolutely eclectic spirit. Finally, this edition will also be an opportunity to celebrate certain events that have become essential: the tenth anniversary of the Fête des Bulles, the 18th anniversary of the Fête de la Musique and the 22nd anniversary of the Panorama of French Cinema.
