Romanian movies were once a favorite among Chinese filmgoers, drawing large audiences in the mid-1970s and the early 1980s.

Now the country's "New Wave" filmmakers, who have emerged in the past decade, are dazzling a new generation of Chinese cinephiles, winning prizes at Cannes and elsewhere with the help of government funding.

Three decades ago, many Chinese people were familiar with Romanian films and their settings. While many saw the films in cinemas, it was more common then for screenings to take place at workers' clubs or outdoor screenings.