BEIJING, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- Closer cooperation was a common aspiration at a cross-Strait film and television forum in Beijing on Thursday. More than 170 industry representatives gathered to discuss ways to work together and make better films.
For many participants, the cultural ties shared by audiences on both sides offer a strong foundation for future cooperation.
"On many themes explored in film, audiences on both sides share similar emotions and a common cultural understanding," said screenwriter Ho Hsin-Ming from Taiwan. He cited a homecoming scene set around the Chinese New Year in a film he worked on as a screenwriter.
"Audiences across the Strait understand what returning home for the Chinese New Year means. That cultural connection needs no explanation," he said.
Such connections are creating new opportunities in the film and television industries. Zhang Yan, vice president of the China Taiwan Hong Kong Film Research Association, noted that cooperation now extends beyond films to include television dramas and short-form online series.
Measures unveiled by the mainland in April further opened up opportunities for filmmakers from Taiwan, including support for film and television works portraying family ties and everyday life across the Strait, as well as opportunities for Taiwan's industry professionals to participate in mainland short-form series.
Director Wu Chen-Ya from Taiwan said he had seen the benefits firsthand. A film in which he acted was successfully released in the mainland in April.
"Policies supporting and encouraging high-quality films from Taiwan have brought real benefits to filmmakers from Taiwan," he said.
The interest goes both ways. A film producer from Taiwan who has helped bring about 10 mainland film and television productions to Taiwan said audiences there had responded enthusiastically to mainland films at cross-Strait film festivals.
Recent film releases have highlighted the strong appeal of films across the Strait.
The film "The Pig, the Snake and the Pigeon" from Taiwan earned more than 600 million yuan (about 88.5 million U.S. dollars) at the mainland box office in 2024. In August this year, tickets for two screenings of the mainland film "Dear You" in Taiwan sold out within five minutes.
Looking to the future, participants also focused on AI, which is rapidly changing how films and television programs are produced around the world.
"The mainland has abundant AI resources and generative-model capabilities, while Taiwan has extensive experience in film and television production," Wu said. "By combining these strengths, we can enhance the competitiveness of Chinese-language productions in international markets."
Despite the excitement over new technology, Wu emphasized that the essence of filmmaking remains unchanged.
"Although AI is giving filmmaking more technological tools, movies are still ultimately about people's stories," he said. "I hope filmmakers on both sides can work more closely to explore our shared history and culture and tell more moving stories across the Taiwan Strait." Enditem
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