FRANKFURT, Oct. 10 -- The Fourth Golden Tree International Documentary Film Festival opened Thursday in downtown Frankfurt, bringing together industry professionals, filmmakers and documentary aficionados with a variety of events.

With the theme "Roots and Inheritance of Culture," the annual film festival exclusively dedicated to documentaries received 4,523 submissions from 126 countries and regions this year. A total of 53 films are shortlisted for eight awards, including seven films from China, according to the organizer.

The film festival provides a platform to display outstanding documentaries from all over the world and therefore builds a bridge for cultural exchanges, Sun Congbin, Chinese Consul General in Frankfurt said at the opening ceremony.

Renate Sterzel, City Councillor of Frankfurt, said the Golden Tree film festival has already become a renowned film festival with a steadily increasing number of participants.

"We are proud to host this successful event as it makes significant and important contribution to the culture of our city," she said.

The film festival will last until Sunday, with screenings of shortlisted films, forums, and presentations of more than twenty projects.