China, Malaysia hope to boost exchanges on silver screen

The 2016 China Movie Week kicked off here on Monday, as organizers hope the animated charactor like Monkey King shown on the silver screen would strengthen exchange among moviemakers and people between China and Malaysia.

A total of five Chinese block-busters in recent years would hit the screen during the five-day movie week, including Monkey King: Hero is back which kicked started the show and the Monster Hunter, another animation movie.

Also would be shown were Wolf Totem by French director Jean-Jacques Annaud, as well as two comedies Go Away! Mr. Tumor and Lost in Thailand.

Liang Ge, Deputy Director General of Film Bureau of China's State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television, said movies had played a significant role in the close ties between China and Malaysia.

"Chinese movies have a long history with Malaysia. As early as 1920s to 1930s, movie companies set up by Chinese were developing well in where is now Malaysia," he said."That episode is important in the history of Chinese movies."

Liang hopes the movie week could provide a deeper understanding for Malaysian moviemakers on Chinese movie industry, paving ways for further cooperation between the two countries in the area.

Michelle Yeoh, who featured in the movie Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, was among the Malaysian movie stars that were popular among Chinese movie-goers.

Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, along with other movies like The Story of Qiu Ju were some remarkable examples of exporting Chinese culture through good movies, said Mohd Khusairi Abdul Talib of National Film development Corporation Malaysia which co-organizes the move week. Enditem