Chinese stars bring red carpet glamor to New Zealand film festival

Stars of China's silver screen joined government ministers in New Zealand's national museum Tuesday to launch a raft of China's biggest blockbusters for the 2016 New Zealand China Film Week.

Cast members of Chinese box office hit "The Mermaid" -- director Stephen Chow and actors including Deng Chao and Lin Yun -- were given the red carpet treatment at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa (Te Papa).

The film is the centrepiece of six Chinese movies featured in the film week, including "Go Away, Mr Tumor," "Xuan Zang," "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny," "The Monkey King 2" and "Monster Hunt."

Zhou Jiandong, an official with the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television, said at a press conference that the six films were very different in style and artistic flavor.

"The Mermaid" was China's box office leader having taken about 520 million U.S. dollars at the Chinese box office, Zhou said.

"China-New Zealand relations have developed at a very fast speed. High-level exchanges are frequent and the successes in cultural and people-to-people exchanges are very satisfying," said Zhou through an interpreter.

"Chinese film-makers are very willing to work with New Zealand counterparts to achieve a win-win situation."

Chow said through an interpreter that he hoped to come to New Zealand in future to shoot some films.

"It's my honor to bring my film here and hopefully you guys will enjoy this film," Chow said at the press conference.

Matthew Garelli, general manager operations New Zealand for film distributor Hoyts Cinema, said "The Mermaid" had been one of the most popular films in New Zealand this year and was "the number one Asian film."

"The Chinese box office in New Zealand has been growing quite substantially over the last few years," Garelli said in an interview with Xinhua.

Chinese ambassador to New Zealand, Wang Lutong, said in a speech at the launch of the film week that it would demonstrate the unique perspective of Chinese producers and enable New Zealanders to experience contemporary China.

"I hope that bilateral cultural exchanges will become closer so as to deepen mutual understanding and friendship and lay a solid foundation of comprehensive strategic partnership," said Wang.

Liu Qibao, head of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, attended a screening of "The Mermaid" at Te Papa with New Zealand's Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Maggie Barry.

Barry said in a speech before the screening that events such as the New Zealand China Film Week fostered a greater cultural understanding and contributed to the strengthening of ties between the two countries. Endit