Young directors seen as 'major force' to boost industry

Young directors have become the "major force" to boost the prosperity and creativity of China's film industry, an insider said at a recent event organized by the China Film Association in Beijing.

Wang Hongwei, deputy chairman of the China Film Directors' Guild, said the latest statistics from the guild show nine of the 10 highest-grossing blockbusters in the first half of this year were all shot by young directors 43 or younger.

"Aside from director Zhang Yimou, the other nine directors are all in their early 40s, with the oldest being director Chen Sicheng, who was born in 1978," Wang said.

Chen's biggest directorial effort this year was Detective Chinatown 3, which earned 4.5 billion yuan ($693.9 million) to soar as the second highest-grossing film this year and the fifth highest-grossing film of all time in China.

Wang said the data can be read as a sign China's directorial talents have completed the transformation from an older generation to a younger one.

"More and more young directors will emerge in the next five years with the changes of the market," Wang added.

The annual 2021 Research Report of the Chinese Film Industry was also released at the event, showing young audiences -- aged between 18 and 24 -- are more interested in watching online movies than other age groups.