The 10th Pingyao Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon International Film Festival opened on 24 September with celebrations centring on the festival's decade-long influence on cinema. The ceremony, held in Pingyao's historic open-air Platform theatre (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), featured a performance by AI robots, a memorial tribute to four influential film industry figures who died over the summer, and the presentation of the prestigious East-West Award to Hong Kong director Ann Hui, a leading figure of the Hong Kong New Wave.

Festival founder Jia Zhangke reflected on the event's significance, recounting his hope that the festival would continue for decades to come and expressing gratitude to filmmakers and industry professionals who have supported it through its development. The ceremony included screenings of Shanxi-based films by internationally renowned directors such as Bernardo Bertolucci and Johnnie To, whilst the memorial segment—set to a string arrangement of "Amazing Grace"—honoured writer Tony Rayns, producer Shi Nansun, former Rotterdam International Film Festival director Simon Field and operatic soprano Guo Lanying. Hui, now 80, accepted the award with a standing ovation, speaking of her gratitude to collaborators and reflecting on the profound privilege of filmmaking.