A scene in the film featuring actor Wang.[Photo provided to China Daily]

The Chinese movie Anima (Mo Er Dao Ga) has appealed to audience and critics as it makes its world premiere at the ongoing 42nd Cairo International Film Festival.

A special red carpet ceremony was held for the cast of the film before its screening on the evening of Dec 8 at the grand theater of the Egyptian Opera House, which was attended by dozens of Egyptians, including actors, directors and critics.

"I am very happy that our film was brought to light here after four years of shooting and hard work. I hope that our efforts in making this film will be rewarded at the CIFF," Chinese filmmaker Cao Jinling, who wrote and directed Anima, says on the red carpet ahead of the screening.

She adds that the participation of Chinese films in Egypt's biggest film gala boosts cultural exchange and interaction between the peoples of both countries.

The 120-minute Anima tackles man's relationship with nature and warns against killing animals and cutting trees through a dramatic plot rising from a family hunting trip in the forest, where a little boy has to rescue his younger brother who falls into a bear cave by killing the mother bear.

When the two brothers Tutu and Linzi grow up, they work in the same logging team but Linzi feels cutting trees is against the sacredness of the forest and he goes against everyone to save the trees, including his older, aggressive brother Tutu.