China's documentary film production is on the right track, and it won't take long for China's documentary film producers to catch up with their overseas counterparts, say experts.

They aired such a view at a press conference in the heels of the opening of 2005 China (Guangzhou) International Documentary Film Festival on December 7.

The festival, jointly sponsored by the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television, is set to last through Saturday.

Among the opinion advocates is Michel Noll, chairman and CEO of Quartier Latin Media Ltd and president of the documentary film jury of the festival.

"China's documentary film production has witnessed a very rapid development in the past 15 years," he said. "China's documentary films make up about 40 per cent of the award nominees of this year, and I don't think their quality has anything to lose.

"Strong competitions from abroad will help boost the development of China's documentary films."

The documentary film festival of this year centers around the theme of "Women Today," which has been suggested by the UNICEF.

Competing among the cream of the crop this year are 260-odd documentaries from 46 countries and regions worldwide.

He said that the theme, craftsmanship and acceptability of the works to foreign audiences, are all important factors to be considered by the jury.

Besides the award appraisal, the organizing committee of the international documentary film festival will organize screenings of Canadian, German and Polish documentary films as well as set up a trading platform for international documentary films.

A total of 106 documentary films and production plans from 14 countries and regions are seeking co-operative opportunities with 30 buyers, including National Geographic TV Channel, Discovery, NHK, BBC, and other TV channels from abroad.

Pat Ferns, a Canadian documentary film authority who chairs the trading of documentary films of the festival, said that the ongoing event plays a good role in the matchmaking between independent documentary film producers in China and global buyers.

The face-to-face talks will make Chinese documentary film-makers understand the creative vision, the craftsmanship and the editing of a documentary film for easier acceptance among international audiences, Ferns said, thus helping China's documentary film production make greater progress.

(China Daily December 9, 2005)