China, India to expand collaboration in films
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E-mail CRI, November 24, 2014
At the ongoing International Film Festival of India, information and broadcasting ministers from China and India have decided to take steps to deepen the people-to-people relationship between the two countries. The two sides have agreed to expand collaboration in films through festivals and co-productions.
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Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi and actor Leung Chiu Wai walks the red carpet at the International Film Festival of India on Nov 20, 2014 in Goa. [Photo: CRI Online] |
In the consensus reached at the first meeting of the China-India joint working group in films, the two countries have determined to expand their collaboration in films through festivals and joint productions.
Zhou Jiandong, chief of the China Film Bureau under the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television, said:
"We have three co-production intentions with our Indian counterparts. One will be directed by Hong Kong movie maker Wong Kar-Wai on the story of a Tang Dynasty monk to India. The other one is 'Kongfu Yoga' by director Stanley Tong. Chinese comedy maker Xu Zheng, who is famous for the blockbuster 'Lost in Thailand', will produce another road movie focus on India."
According to Zhou Jiandong, China and India are planning more film exchanges, including film week or exhibtion, at each other's country every two years. As the host of the Silk Road International Film Festival, China invited India as the focus country to the second session of the event in 2015. The two sides also agreed to import more films from each other.
The new steps taken on film collaboration are welcomed by filmmakers and stars. Some of them have shown great interests on it.
Chinese super star Zhang Ziyi, who presented the inaugural ceremony of the International Film Festival of India said:
"Indian dance and songs are beautiful. For us, the martial arts are gorgeous. So maybe one day, we can combine them together. That will be something fantastic."
Xue Xiaolu, director of Focus China-Section opening film "Finding Mr. Right".
"China and India are large film producers with professional filmmakers. There are about 700 feature films produced by China last year, and as I was told, India also boasts an annual production of 600 plus films. There will be huge potential in the two markets. I'm looking forward for the new works jointly made by Chinese and India directors. "
Talking about the co-operation between the China and India, secretary of India's Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Bimal Jhulka said the two neighbors share common factors in culture and history. He hoped the collaboration would help both countries deliver good cinema in the near future.
"We do believe that if all the creative energies from both countries to get together, it will launch the whole media with a great bang."
Since last year, the momentum in government to government interactions between China and India has been gradually growing. Officials from the information and broadcast ministries of both countries visited each other and conducted joint-group discussions in cooperation in the realm of films. In September, China and India signed an audio-visual co-production treaty aiming to bring the film industries of the two countries.
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