SANYA /China/, 7 December. /TASS/. Hainan has unique advantages for promoting international film projects due to its geographical location, specific economic development and rich cultural component, according to Wang Bin, director of the Publicity Department of the Hainan Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

"As an important link between Southeast Asia and other countries, Hainan can use its unique advantages due to its geographical location to help Chinese films enter international markets. It can also help promote cooperation in the film industry among all countries," Wang Bin said at the China Film Innovation Forum held during the 6th Hainan International Film Festival (HIFF).

Wang Bin noted that the Hainan Free Trade Port's policy of providing benefits and preferential treatment to all areas of socio-economic activities, combined with the projects of the One Belt, One Road initiative, aims to "promote the prosperity and development of the global film industry". "We hope that all filmmakers can use Hainan as a bridge, work together to find innovative ways to promote cooperation between different cultures," he added.

The head of the publicity department recalled that the provincial government is striving to attract as many film companies as possible to register in Hainan and create exciting films, taking advantage of local advantages, including natural and ecological advantages, as well as the factor of distinctive culture. "We are working hard to build a complete industry chain, from production to the announcement of a new film's release, to provide filmmakers with more convenient and highly efficient services," he said.

Wang Bin said that with new film companies entering the local market, Hainan is becoming "a base for creating even more high-quality works." He pointed out that more than 100 films and TV series have been produced in the province in recent years, and dozens of new films are released here every year. The official noted that the island has provided the opportunity to shoot footage for Chinese novelties such as the crime thriller "No More Bets" (Gu Zhu Yi Zhi, 2023) and the mystery "Lost in the Stars" (Xiao Shi De Ta, 2022).

HIFF is recognized as one of the four major film festivals in the People's Republic of China, and will be held for the first time in December 2018. It has hosted world-renowned actors and directors such as Jackie Chan, Nicolas Cage, Johnny Depp and Nuri Bilge Ceylan. In 2021, the event was canceled due to the pandemic. The fifth Hainan Film Festival was held from December 16 to 22, 2023.