CRI听力:Film Quota Keeps Culture Legacy Survive in Wonderland

Chinese cinemas are required to give at least two thirds of screen time to domestic films.

The State Council has reaffirmed this quota in its new guidelines to boost the film industry.

Also this week, after sweeping over 100-million dollars in China, Avatar, the hugely popular Hollywood blockbuster's 2D version has been pushed aside to make room for "Confucius", a biographic epic about the ancient Chinese philosopher.



He Fei brings this report on an exclusive interview with movie administrative staff.

This year, after Avatar, Chinese cinemas can show another 19 imported movies. And together they are not allowed to take over one third of total screening time. That's according to the new industry guideline released by the State Council.

Zhu Hong, spokesman of the Chinese State Administration of Radio, Film and Television, or SARFT, says it is necessary for state policy intervention to uphold domestic cultural legacy and diversity.

"China protects its traditional culture based on international convention and national reality. The quota of one third of screening time is still huge room for imported movies. We do this basically to meet the needs of the Chinese people, because a majority of them actually like domestic films. Many countries embrace the quota policy. It is quite an international convention."

Zhu Hong says China has never stopped importing good foreign works.

"In recent years, more and more foreign movies have been shown in China and some of them were shown on the same day as in New York or London."

But some people worry that the quota policy won't help much in keeping the national cultural legacy.

Chen Hui, a postgraduate from the UK's University of York, says the policy may help boost domestic works,but for movie goers, they only choose what they like.

"For ordinary audiences like me, we only choose the ones we want to see, no matter it is domestic or foreign."

Patrick Chovanec, an associate professor at Tsinghua University, says although a film quota is implemented by other countries too, the ultimate way to protect cultural legacy on the screen is still to win the market.

"You know, China is not unique to have this concern. The one that people bring the most is France... In the end, you have to produce things that people want to watch or willing to pay for. This kind of restriction can have an effect, but ultimately China has to win its audience by its efforts."

Last year, China's box office topped nearly one billion dollars.

Zhu Hong, the spokesman with SARFT, says the new guidelines also include some initiatives to boost China's domestic movie industry. And production companies are encouraged to apply to be listed on the stock market.

He Fei, CRI news.