The 10th Pingyao Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon International Film Festival opened on Sept. 24 with an AI robot dance by Unitree, a tribute to four late friends of the festival and the Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon East-West Award for Hong Kong director Ann Hui.

The ceremony took place at the Platform, the festival's signature open-air theater inside the ancient city of Pingyao, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Shanxi province that dates to the 14th century. A light drizzle fell as the evening began. Organizers had handed every attendee a disposable poncho in advance.

After the robots, a montage showcased Shanxi-set films by internationally renowned filmmakers, including Bernardo Bertolucci's "The Last Emperor," King Hu's "Painted Skin" and Wai Ka-fai and Johnnie To's "Running on Karma." It also featured two animated films drawing on Shanxi's historical landscape: Yu Shui's "Nobody" and Mu Zhengyang's "All Wishes Come True!"

Festival founder Jia Zhangke recalled that a soft drizzle had fallen on the same stage during Pingyao's very first edition. He thanked the festival team, the press, audiences and, in particular, his fellow filmmakers.

"I remember one year we hosted the Pingyao Film Festival during a heavy snowfall. Spring Festival was right around the corner and we were so worried that no audience or guests would show up," Jia said. "Yet that year, so many people who work in the film industry drove through the heavy snow from hundreds, even thousands of kilometers away. In that moment, I felt the snow was burning, fueled by the warmth and support you brought to us."

Jia said he hoped the festival would carry on for a few more decades. "When I get old enough, I will return simply as a filmgoer, sitting down in the audience, watching a movie right here at the Platform," he said.

He also presented a memorial film honoring four friends of Pingyao who died over the summer: British writer and commentator Tony Rayns, Hong Kong producer Shi Nansun, former International Film Festival Rotterdam director Simon Field and Chinese operatic soprano Guo Lanying. Set to a string arrangement of "Amazing Grace," the short film traced how each had contributed to and supported the festival.

Hui, a leading figure of the Hong Kong New Wave, received the East-West Award for bridging East and West through her distinctive cinematic language. After a montage of her work, director Tian Zhuangzhuang and Asian Film Awards Academy chair Wilfred Wong presented the award, and Hui received a standing ovation.

"I want to take this moment to deeply thank the actors I just saw on screen, disheveled and weeping. They poured everything into collaborating with me to bring so many projects to fruition, some remarkable, others less so – but what matters is that we completed them together," Hui said.

She added that beyond the satisfaction of filmmaking and its awards, "now that I'm turning 80, I can tell you this: you will look back and feel deeply, profoundly grateful for the grace of being able to make films."

Actor Huang Bo, visiting Pingyao for the first time, offered congratulations on the anniversary. He produced and stars in "Suzhou Quartet," which competes in the Crouching Dragon section for the Fei Mu Awards.

With Roberto Rossellini Awards jury head Carlo Chatrian still traveling to Pingyao after conducting a masterclass with Bong Joon Ho in Turin, actor Lee Sinje spoke on behalf of the jury.

"Seeing all those film clips just now, I felt deeply moved and thrilled. I think we are all eagerly looking forward to watching them all, and will certainly bring our full professionalism to carry out this task," Lee said.

Lee, who recently wrapped "Wanita," her first narrative feature as director, also quoted Hou Hsiao-hsien: "I'd like to share it with everyone today: 'I make film. It is my belief.'"

Chinese band Wu Tiao Ren performed Teresa Teng's classic "The Moon Represents My Heart," wishing the audience a happy Mid-Autumn Festival, which fell the following day. The band returned at the end of the evening and invited the jury members on stage to close the ceremony.

The restored version of "Spring in a Small Town" opened the festival, receiving its Asian premiere after the ceremony in the theater that shares its name. The festival runs through Sept. 30.