This year, France—more than just having a strong presence in and around the Beijing International Film Festival— is also honoring the contribution of veteran filmmakers to the world's cultural heritage.

On Saturday evening, the French Ambassador to China awarded the knighthood of the Order of Arts and Letters to Chinese Director Feng Xiaogang.[CRI]

On Saturday evening, the French Ambassador to China awarded the knighthood of the Order of Arts and Letters to Chinese Director Feng Xiaogang.

Quietly tucked away in a narrow, centuries-old street by the Forbidden City, celebrities from China and France celebrated a "Soiree francaise."

The Ambassador of France to China, Maurice Gourdault-Montagne, welcomed the guest of honor, director Feng Xiaogang, and his wife, actress Xu Fan.

The French evening also marks the 12th Panorama of French Cinema in China, and is a big morale boost for the country's entries at this year's Beijing International Film Festival.

French Director Jean-Jacques Annaud, who has just released his latest Franco-Sino co-production "Wolf Totem", is already looking forward to making another film with Chinese actors.

"I've had such a positive experience filming in China. I absolutely loved working with such fantastic Chinese actors and crew. I hope I'll make my next film again in China," he said.

Chinese director Feng Xiaogang, though a Beijing native and working almost exclusively in China, has long garnered the attention of the world.

Unlike many fifth-generation Chinese filmmakers, a label the he tries to resist, Feng has proved to be a highly successful commercial filmmaker.

On Saturday evening, the French Ambassador to China awarded the knighthood of the Order of Arts and Letters to Chinese Director Feng Xiaogang.[CRI]

Best known for his comedies, such as "If You Are the One", he is almost synonymous with the genre of "Hesui pian" or "New Year Celebration Films". The filmmaker has tried to break from this typecast by making the epic drama "Back to 1942".

For his significant contribution to the arts, Feng was awarded Knighthood of the Order of Arts and Letters by the French Ambassador to China.

"I look nothing like a knight, but French people seem to think I do... I haven't done any films overseas, including France, but I like how their crew is very composed, and I certainly would like to make a film there one day," Feng said.

Established in 1957 by the Minister of Culture, the Order of Arts and Letters is an Order of France to recognize significant contributions to the arts and culture around the world. The Order has three grades: Commander, Officer and Knight.

"Dear Feng Xiaogang, you're a man of culture, in all manners of speaking. You're a director, a writer, an actor and also a painter. For this reason, the Republic of France would like to recognize you for your contribution to the promotion of Chinese culture through cinema, the promotion of human understanding, and the promotion of bridging cultures, one of the most precious things in a globalized world where you help Chinese cinema blossom, and for which we adore you," said Maurice Gourdault-Montagne, French ambassador to China.

The Chinese filmmaker is working on the screenplay for the third installment of "If You Are the One" and says that France could be the setting for the sequel.