TAIPEI, June 23 (Xinhua) -- The mainland section of the 17th Annual Cross-Strait Film Exhibition opened in Taipei on Tuesday, bringing eight mainland films of diverse genres to audiences in Taiwan and highlighting continued cultural exchanges across the Taiwan Strait.
The featured films range from the art-house drama "The Sun Rises on Us All" and the historical war epic "Dongji Rescue" to the period dramas "The Lychee Road" and "Xi Tai."
During the film exhibition, mainland filmmakers will also participate in post-screening discussions and industry exchange activities with audiences and film professionals in Taiwan.
"Films bridge the Strait and bring people closer together through storytelling," Zhang Pimin, chairman of the China Film Foundation, said at the opening ceremony. He noted that filmmakers from both sides of the Strait have maintained close exchanges and cooperation in recent years, producing many heartfelt works that resonated with audiences.
The film exhibition has never been interrupted since its launch 17 years ago and has become a cultural bond connecting people across the Strait, said Chu Yen-ping, veteran Taiwan director and head of the Taiwan-based Cross-Strait Films Exchange Committee, the event's Taiwan organizer.
He added that ticket sales for this year's mainland films in Taiwan have been particularly strong, reflecting the growing base of loyal moviegoers.
"The Sun Rises on Us All" was the first film screened at the event in Taipei and drew enthusiastic responses from local audiences.
Zhang Songwen, the film's lead actor, said that Taiwan audiences impressed him with their warmth and thoughtful engagement during post-screening discussions.
"The questions they raised touched on themes our team had been reflecting on all along and captured the director's intended message," Zhang said.
Actor Yu Shaoqun, who stars in the period comedy "Xi Tai," which is set against the backdrop of a Peking Opera theater between 1912 and 1949, said the film's theme rooted in traditional Chinese culture would likely resonate with Taiwan audiences.
"People on both sides of the Strait share the same cultural roots, and traditional arts such as Peking Opera have been well preserved in Taiwan," Yu noted.
The film exhibition runs from June 22 to 27, with several screenings already sold out.
The event's Taiwan section was held in Ya'an, southwest China's Sichuan Province, from May 30 to June 3 this year, and featured seven Taiwan films including "96 Minutes," "Girl" and "Deep Quiet Room." ■
