Chinese President Hu Jintao (4th R Front), Premier Wen Jiabao (3rd R Front), Vice President Zeng Qinghong (1st R Front) and Li Changchun (2nd R Front), a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, shake hands with representatives attending the grand gathering marking the centennial anniversary of China's movie industry at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, on Dec. 28, 2005. (Xinhua Photo)

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of Chinese motion pictures. In 1905, China's first homemade silent movie was born in a Beijing photo studio. As 2005 draws to a close, so does a year of activities marking the big anniversary.

With China's movie industry celebrating its centennial, this year's film gala aims to see Chinese film off toward a brighter future.

Held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, over 700 governmental officials and artists from the Chinese film industry attended the giant gala Wednesday in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of Chinese Film in Beijing.

The first domestically produced movie appeared in China in 1905. Since then, great changes have taken place in the country's film industry, which has maintained a robust momentum in both domestic and international film circles.

Chinese president, Hu Jintao, delivered a speech during the commemoration, saying that Chinese movies have gained profound achievements in the past years. He believed there is even a brighter future for Chinese movies in the new era.

"We are in a great era and it is calling for new masterpieces of motion pictures. In retrospect, I am proud of our achievements. I am so confident that there will be a brighter future for our movie industry," Hu said.

He said he hoped that the Chinese filmmakers will grasp the new potential opportunities in the new century so as to produce more outstanding movies which truly reflect the life of the people.

Also attending the commemoration, Li Changchun, member the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China Central Committee Political Bureau, said the country should make full use of every chance to improve the competitiveness of Chinese movies in both the domestic and international film market.

"In the face of the diversified demands of people and fierce competition of the international film market, we should not only fulfill the utilization of our cinematic infrastructure, but also we should seize every opportunity to develop our film industry so as to confront the challenges ahead," Li said.

Since the emergence of the first Chinese movie, the lack of good screenplays, shortage of funds, and other issues have greatly restricted the movie industry in the country.

Li Changchun added that Chinese filmmakers should further enhance the quality of the Chinese movie in terms of scientific and technological innovation, reform of relevant mechanisms, exchange of international cooperations and other issues.

Being one of the 50 outstanding artists in the film circle awarded in the commemoration, Xie Tieli, part of the Third Generation of Chinese directors and a well-known veteran film artist, showed his great happiness and expectation for the development of Chinese movies.

"As a veteran in the circle, I share the happiness that Chinese movies brings to me and witness its extraordinary history of development. One hundred years is such a long time in one's life, but it is just a beginning for the Chinese film industry," Xie said. 

He also hoped the young filmmakers in China will make full use of the present situation, and aim to produce more brilliant movies to meet the needs of not only the Chinese people, but also people all over the world.

Editor: Yan