The shortage of investment and meagre audience numbers have always been obstacles for the development of the Chinese documentary film industry.

Experts made the remarks prior to the opening of the 2004 Guangzhou International Documentary Film Festival, which starts today. During the five-day festival, 115 documentaries from 23 countries and regions will be shown.

With the theme 'Children and Teenagers,' the films focus on growing up and children's relationships with their parents.

Forums focusing on the development of Chinese documentary films will be held.

Li Jinyuan, chairman of the festival organizing committee, said at a news briefing early last week that the event expects to build a communication and trade channel between Chinese and international documentary film investors, producers and distributors.

A documentary film trade fair will be held for the first time, with experts from home and abroad discussing how Chinese documentary films can 'go overseas' and face the current problems of development.

Statistics from the festival's organizing committee show that audience rates for documentary films in China have dropped to less than 10 per cent.

According to Li, there are currently two main ways of seeking investment for Chinese documentary producers.

'One is investment from top television stations, such as China Central Television (CCTV) and other province-level TV stations, and the other is from film and TV companies,' said Li.

However, due to poor showings at the box office, few TV stations and companies are willing to back documentaries, said Li.

In addition, foreign companies have found it difficult in recent years to invest in the local documentary industry due to China's limited scope of foreign investment, Li said.

'Without enough investment, it is hard for Chinese producers to make documentary films of high quality and better attract audiences, as well as compete with international documentary films,' said Li.

To combat this, the forums will mainly focus on how Chinese producers can attract investment and audiences, as well as offering a chance for exchanges with international names in the documentary business.(China Daily Qiu Quanlin)

 
Editor: Catherine