Chinese actor says Chinese cinema fusing "own traditions with the outside world"

SYDNEY, Dec. 7 (Xinhua) -- An event in Sydney brought some of the world's biggest stars to the red carpet Wednesday night for the 7th annual Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts awards.

In town to judge the category of best Asian film alongside Russell Crowe and South Korean filmmaker Kim Ki-Duk, Chinese actor Liu Ye talked about the growing excitement around Chinese cinema in Western countries.

"Chinese filmmakers and Chinese people in general have become more and more open minded and willing to accept different things," he told Xinhua.

"And in this way, China is fusing its own traditions with the outside world," he added.

"Therefore, I think it's a good time for a Western movie to come in China or for a Chinese movie to go abroad."

One of the Chinese films that was nominated for best Asian picture was the record breaking, box office smash hit Wolf Warrior 2.

Writer of the action blockbuster Liu Yi explained that one of the biggest factors in the recent success of Chinese cinema has been China itself.

"The rise of China's economy and the strength of China overall has made China an increasingly important player in the world," Liu Yi said on the red carpet.

"So maybe other foreign friends will start to pay more and more attention to China and this will also give Asian films a larger audience around the world," he said.

"At the same time, it will raise the industrial standard for the whole Chinese film industry, which is already close to or meeting the world's top industry standards."

Indian sports drama Dangal took home top prize in the Asian category on Wednesday.

The Best Actor award went to nine-year-old Sunny Pawar for his role in the biographical film Lion and the Best Actress was claimed by Emma Booth for her work portraying a serial killer in Hounds of Love.

The Oscar nominated Lion also won the Best Picture award.

In early 2018, audiences can look forward to Liu Ye's new TV series Old Boy, in which Liu plays a pilot.

"It's a beautiful love story with some scenes filmed in Australia," he said.

"The wonderful environment here supports the story well and hopefully everyone can see it soon." Enditem