The Chinese people are set to enjoy 100,000 screenings of 100 home-made films in a program sponsored by the Chinese government.

The State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) has set aside 20 million yuan (US$2.5 million) and has provided copies of 100 Chinese films for the program, according to Mao Yu, an official with the SARFT.

Common urban community citizens and disadvantaged groups of people, such as laid-off workers, migrant workers and their children, and rural peasants are qualified for the free showings.

"Films should be showed if possible in roofed houses such as auditoria and refectories, or huts temporarily built by moving film-showing teams," Mao said.

In China there are about 35,000 moving film-showing teams, which screen films for peasants who cannot afford tickets to theaters.

The SARFT has urged its local subordinate departments to implement its plan and has encouraged related companies to support the nationwide activities.

"We allow the companies to advertise before showings," Mao added.

Beijing and Jiangsu Provinces have both arranged digital films to accumulate experience for the community film showings in future and to satisfy the audience's demands.

Film companies in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region has prepared dubbed films in Uygur language at the request of local ethnic groups.

"This campaign is aimed at promoting a harmonious society in China while marking the centennial of Chinese cinema," Mao said.

(Xinhua News Agency January 30, 2006)