The opening ceremony of the 19th edition of the Festival Croisements took place on April 11 at Shenzhen's Sea World Culture and Arts Center. Bertrand Lortholary, the French Ambassador to China, and over 200 guests attended the ceremony.

Spanning from April to July, this four-month festival will offer a French cultural extravaganza to audiences in China, featuring 62 projects and 325 events across 31 cities.

Ambassador Lortholary highlighted Shenzhen’s significance in promoting cultural exchanges and strengthening China-French relations during the 18th Festival Croisements last year. In the previous edition, with about 900 events held throughout China, Shenzhen, alongside Beijing and Shanghai, led in terms of the number of projects and activities it hosted.

"Shenzhen, an important partner of the French Embassy in China and the Consulate General of France in Guangzhou, is a city brimming with vitality and creativity. Boasting advanced cultural infrastructure and renowned entrepreneurship, it has become an ideal venue for artistic experimentation. The people here are showing an increasing interest in the French language and culture. On April 11, 2023, the Alliance Française de Shenzhen was inaugurated at Shenzhen University, marking it as the 14th such institution on the Chinese mainland," Ambassador Lortholary stated.

The opening ceremony also showcased a theatrical adaptation of Jules Verne's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, a collaborative production by a French director and Chinese creatives. With immersive staging and blacklight puppetry, this production highlights the festival's resonance with global environmental advocacy, ahead of the third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) to be held in Nice, France, in June.

During the 19th Festival Croisements, renowned French cultural institutions such as the Musée d'Orsay, the Centre Pompidou, and the Le Consortium Contemporary Art Museum in Dijon will present a comprehensive artistic panorama, ranging from the Impressionist era to contemporary art. Moreover, the Orchestre National de France and the Orchestre de l'Opéra Royal du Château de Versailles will embark on a tour in China.

2025 marks the 61st anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France. "This year's Festival Croisements will provide emerging French artists with a brand-new opportunity to gain an in-depth understanding of China. It will also bring diverse and innovative cultural experiences to Chinese audiences, including VR, music, drama, and film," explained Nicolas Pillerel, Minister Counsellor for Culture, Education, and Scientific Affairs at the French Embassy in China.

Pillerel also introduced that the country aims to host more cultural activities in vibrant cities such as Shenzhen, which is why they selected Shenzhen as the venue for the opening ceremony. He expressed hope that increased cooperation and exchanges could be fostered with Shenzhen this year.

Launched in 2006, the Festival Croisements is one of the largest French cultural events outside of France and one of the largest foreign cultural festivals in China.