Initiated in 1994, China Zhuhai Film Festival is held biennially, and its original name was China Zhuhai Cross-Straits and Hong Kong Film Festival. From the second festival in 1996, its name changed to the current one.

Approved by the Ministry of Broadcasting, Film and Television of China, China Zhuhai Film Festival is a permanent national film festival sponsored by the Zhuhai municipal government of Guangdong Province.

First held in Zhuhai in June 1994, the Zhuhai Film Festival aims at carrying forward the Chinese national cultural traditions and promoting the development and prosperity of regional film industry across the Straits and in Hong Kong. The theme of the festival is unification, exchange, innovation and prosperity.

The Zhuhai Film Festival not only promotes the exchange of film circles in the mainland, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao, but also strives to become an international Chinese film festival by accepting films directed by overseas Chinese into competition. Awards set in the festival are composed of Best Film, Best Scenario, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, and Best Photography.