CHENGDU -- The Fifth Panda, Animal and Nature Film Festival will kick off on August 16 in the city of Ya'an in Southwest China's Sichuan province, organizers said Monday.

Forty-five foreign and 20 domestic films will be screened and receive awards at the festival, the event's organizing committee said.

Seminars, a photography exhibition and promotional events will also take place during the festival.

Since its debut in 2007, the event has attracted hundreds of film entries under the theme of environmental protection.