Filmmakers, scholars and actors celebrated the 65th anniversary of China's film education Saturday in Beijing.
In 1950, China's first college on film studies, the Beijing Film Academy, was founded in a courtyard in the downtown of China's capital. During the past 65 years, it has taught thousands of students, many of whom earned their fame worldwide.
One of the alumni was Zhang Yimou, who graduated 32 years ago. The famous director won many awards including the Golden Lion, Golden Bear and Grand Jury prizes, and three of his films were nominated for the Academy Award. He was also chief director of the opening and closing ceremonies of the Beijing Olympic Games.
"The Beijing Film Academy changed my destiny, as well as many others," he said at the red carpet show in the college Saturday afternoon.
Teachers and students from the college have taken part in the production of 64 percent of all the domestic films so far.
Actor Chen Kun entered the college in 1996. "My teacher Mr. Cui told us to be good people before becoming good actors," he recalled. "Only after you learn how to be a good person, can you play good roles in films."
Directors Wang Xiaoshuai, Lu Chuan and actress Zhao Wei also appeared at the red carpet show, among others.
A forum of leaders from international film academies also kicked off Saturday, with 30 participants from 29 renowned colleges worldwide, including Jane Roscoe, director of London Film School, and Elizabeth M. Daley, dean of School of Cinematic Arts in the University of Southern California.
Experts at the forum agreed that the development of Chinese market brought opportunities for the global film industry, and Chinese filmmakers contributed a lot to the world.
Box-office income in China has reached 17.5 billion yuan (about 2.75 billion US dollars) so far this year, up 5 percent compared with the same period last year. Nearly half of the income came from domestic films.
This year also marks the 110th anniversary of the birth of Chinese film, and the 120th anniversary of the world film industry.
