South China's Guangdong Province has been given the green light
by the nation's top radio, film and TV administrative body to
independently introduce Cantonese-language movies manufactured in
Hong Kong.
"After getting approval by the State Administration of Radio,
Film and Television, people in Guangdong, where Cantonese is the
main language, will have more access to up-to-date Hong Kong
movies," Lin Ziping, cultural marketing director of the Guangdong
provincial department of culture, said.
Under the approval, there will be no limitations on the quantity
of movies that can be shown in Guangdong, Lin said.
In the past, movies from Hong Kong were introduced only by the
Beijing-based China Film Group Corporation and then distributed to
local companies on the mainland.
Lin said three Guangdong film companies - the China Film South
Cinema Circuit Co Ltd, Guangzhou Pearl River Cinema Circuit Co Ltd
and the Shenzhen Movie Circuit Ltd - have been granted rights to
independently select and introduce Cantonese-language movies made
in Hong Kong.
"However, Hong Kong movies introduced by the three Guangdong
movie companies must still be approved by the top radio, film and
TV administrative body," he said.
Although the approval was officially granted last year, just one
Hong Kong movie, "The Heavenly Kings", has so far been released in
Guangdong.
Lin said the three local movie companies were in talks with Hong
Kong moviemakers on how to produce films that would appeal in
Guangdong.
He described the situation as "win-win" for both moviemakers and
viewers.
"Guangdong and Hong Kong have lots in common, but mostly the
language. People understand the beauty of the dialogue in Hong Kong
movies," Lin said.
He said the move was part of efforts by the mainland to aid the
development of the movie industry in Hong Kong.
"Hong Kong movies will always find an audience in Guangdong. So
the move will ultimately benefit everyone," Lin told China
Daily.
Zhong Haiming, a piano teacher from Shenzhen, said: "I love
Cantonese-language movies. People who don't speak Cantonese cannot
understand how beautiful the language is."
(China Daily August 7, 2007)