The Film Bureau refuted Thursday a rumor that the "mainland film delegation should collectively drop out of Taiwan's Golden Horse Awards", saying that the bureau has never objected to people representing nominated films attending the ceremony.

Zhang Pimin, deputy director of the State Film Bureau, said that the bureau had sent delegations to attend the Golden Horse Awards ceremony in the past but it was not established practice.

Only mainland-Taiwan or mainland-Hong Kong co-productions qualify for the Golden Horse Awards. Mainland actors, directors and other film staff associated with nominated films can attend the ceremony in Taiwan after registering with the bureau.

The Golden Horse Awards, the Chinese-speaking world's equivalent of the Oscars, will be held in Taipei, the capital of Taiwan, on November 25.

Nominated co-production films include Peter Chan's musical movie "Perhaps Love" starring mainland actress Zhou Xun, who has been nominated for best actress; "The Postmodern Life of My Aunt", starring Chinese actress Siqin Gaowa, also nominated for best actress; "Crazy Stone"; and Chinese director Feng Xiaogang's Hamlet-inspired epic "The Banquet", which stars Zhang Ziyi.

Cast and crew from these films are all allowed to attend the awards ceremony in Taiwan, said Zhang, adding that -- as far as he knew -- some of them were already on the way.

Editor: Donald