Government, university to push film development in Pingyao

Government officials from Pingyao county meet with officials of the Communication University of Shanxi, on April 17. [Photo/pingyao.gov.cn]

The founding ceremony of Shanxi Film Academy of the Communication University of Shanxi and the plaque unveiling for the academy's teaching and practice base in Pingyao county took place in Jinzhong city, North China's Shanxi province, on April 17. 

Government officials from Pingyao county met officials of the Communication University of Shanxi -- as well as the noted Chinese filmmaker and the academy's first dean Jia Zhangke -- after the ceremony. They discussed the upcoming annual Pingyao International Film Festival and the development and operations of a teaching and practice base in Pingyao. 

Wu Xiaohua, Party chief of Pingyao, said that the county would focus on the development of the Shanxi film industry and the future of the Pingyao International Film Festival. It would make every effort to smoothly host the fifth film festival, as well as plan the layout and schedule for the construction of the teaching and practice base. 

Wang Yinong, Party chief of the Communication University of Shanxi, expressed his gratitude to Pingyao for its support during preparations for the establishment of the academy. 

Moving forwards, the university plans to establish an efficient mechanism and draw up clear plans to run the film festival, build the base, as well as promote the development of the local film industry, Wang added.