Sixteen young Chinese film directors will receive funds from the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television to develop more sophisticated movies.

The administration will offer 500,000 yuan (US$64,267) for each good script and help them to publish their films more easily.

The 16 directors include Lu Chuan, Wang Xiaoshuai, Xu Jinglei, Jia Zhangke and Ning Hao, who have won awards from international film galas or won high reputations from audiences.

Ning, the director of Crazy Stone, may be the first to be given the funds for his new film, the English name of which is translated as Crazy Racing Car.

The administration plans to lower the maximum age limit to 40 years of age next year from the current 45.

An official of the administration said crowd-pleasing entertainment productions filled Chinese theaters, especially those directed by Zhang Yimou, Chen Kaige and Feng Xiaogang, the fifth generation of directors in China.

These big-budget movies earned a lot of money rather than a good reputation because of their lack of creativity, culture and philosophy, the official said.

(CRIENGLISH.com January 20, 2007)