China launches best screenplay selection among domestic films
China Film Association (CFA) on Thursday launched the first selection of best scenarist award to improve the literary quality of the screenplay in the country.
Zhang Sitao, director of the screenplay committee of the CFA said, "It is an annual event and films which are produced within the stated period and obtain the permit for public projection are eligible for the selection."
The stated period for the first selection is from Jan. 2008 to Oct. 2009.
More than 700 films attained permits in the period, including all-star epic "The Founding of a Republic," which premiered on Sept. 16.
"Five films will be awarded after the voting by the members of the screenplay committee," Zhang said, adding the selection would run until the end of this December and awarding would be hosted in next January.
Zhang said literary quality of Chinese film was a weak link in the making chain of Chinese movies, though the film industry was booming.
China has been witnessing an increasing number of films in recent years. A total of 406 domestic films were produced in 2008.It is four times as many as the number in 2002.
Last year, the box office of the film industry in China hit 4.3billion yuan (about 629 million U.S. dollars). In 2002, it was less than 1 billion.
"The activity is to provide a platform for domestic films to share experience by honoring the outstanding screenplays," Zhang said.