A special screening showcase featuring Taiwan films opened Wednesday at the 2024 China Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Film Festival in Xiamen, Fujian province.

A cross-Strait cinematic cultural dialogue takes place at the 2024 China Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Film Festival, which opened on Wednesday in Xiamen, Fujian province, Nov. 13, 2024. [Photo courtesy of the China Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Film Festival Organizing Committee]

Films such as "A City of Sadness," "Flowers of Shanghai" and "Millennium Mambo" by director Hou Hsiao-Hsien, along with the new film "BIG" by Wei Te-Sheng, are being shown during the festival. Organizers said the screenings display the unique charm of Taiwan cinema and stimulate further reflection and dialogue about the common cultural roots of cross-Strait cinema. The festival partnered with ticketing platform Taopiaopiao to organize the screenings.

A cross-Strait cultural dialogue followed the opening, featuring Zhang Ji, a mainland screenwriter, director and vice chairman of the China Film Association, alongside renowned Taiwan sound designer Tu Duun Chih, director Wei Te-Sheng and other industry professionals from both sides of the Strait.

"I first came to the mainland to film in Xiamen," Wei recalled, "and I have developed a deep connection with the city. Taiwan and Xiamen share similar language and cultural aspects. I look forward to collaborating in environments with similar cultural backgrounds, which could be the perfect beginning."

"Our understanding of culture is fundamentally the same; we share many common symbols that we intuitively understand," Tu added. "Together, we can find better ways to express ourselves in Chinese-language films."

"The market is changing, and so are young audiences. We need to respond proactively to these changes," Zhang said. "In terms of subject selection and narrative pacing, we must be inclusive and open-minded while respecting the essence of film art. Only by respecting tradition can we truly innovate and preserve its core."

Taiwan films have consistently performed well on Chinese mainland, with this year's standout being "The Pig, the Snake and the Pigeon." With Alibaba Pictures' marketing support, the film emerged as a surprise success, earning 665 million yuan ($92 million) in the mainland market — an exceptional achievement for an off-peak season release.

Li Jie, president of Alibaba Pictures, said his company is committed to meeting audience demands by delivering diverse, high-quality films. "We will leverage good content, effective marketing and our platform to build more bridges for cross-Strait film and cultural exchanges, helping Chinese-language films become a major force in global cinema and share our stories with the world," he said.

Zhang Chi, who oversees international film screenings for the Golden Rooster festival, expressed hope that filmmakers from both sides of the Strait will collaborate on more quality productions, creating shared memories and experiences. "We aim to continuously break new ground for Chinese-language cinema, establishing deeper domestic roots while expanding globally, showcasing diverse creative expressions on the world stage," he said.

The Taiwan film screenings are part of broader cross-Strait cultural activities at this year's festival. Given Xiamen's proximity to China's Taiwan region, organizers have invited nearly 100 filmmakers from Taiwan to participate. The festival is also hosting other themed activities, including exchange programs and a cross-Strait and Hong Kong-Macao youth short film event.

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