Seventh edition of Asian film festival was inaugurated by Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh on Thursday evening. 80 films from 20 asian countries as well as from Palestine and Egypt will be screened during 8-day festival. The festival began with the screening of Chinese film "Tuya's marriage" at the Y B Chavan centre.

During inauguration function, Deshmukh appreciated the emerging content-driven cinema which has blurred the divide between commercial and art film.

He added that Asian countries have witnessed a sea change in terms of socio-political development. Societies in these countries face same concerns and cinema is a reflection of society.

Deshmukh said Mumbai is soon emerging as a world class metropolis with well-equipped film studios and trained personnel. He assured more financial assistance to the Asian film foundation which organizes the festival.

He said: "Mumbai has emerged in the forefront in providing the basic infrastructure for filmmakers as the studios, locations and other necessities for filmmaking have evolved massively over a period of time. Hence, I request all the filmmakers across Asia to explore the city."

Korean director Park Kwang Su was bestowed with the Asian Film Culture Award and the Satyajit Ray Memorial Award was given to P.K. Nair, former director of National Film Archives.