Jackie Chan Photo: Li Hao/GT

Ten films from the Chinese mainland were randomly selected from a pool of 62 to be released in the island of Taiwan in 2020, while there are no restrictions on films from Taiwan when they are released in the mainland.

The 10 chosen movies include Vanguard, starring Jackie Chan, Li Na, directed by Peter Chan, and Ash is Purest White, which was nominated for the main competition of the 71st Cannes International Film Festival in April 2018, according to a report from the Beijing Evening News.

An additional 52 movies also applied for a Taiwan release, including Last Later, jointly made by Chinese and Japanese artists, and 27 have been placed on a waiting list. If any of the initially chosen 10 films encounter problems and cannot be broadcast, these 27 movies will have the opportunity to replace them.

A quota system in Taiwan for films from the Chinese mainland means that only 10 movies can be released in Taiwan each year. This quota was initially filled according to a first-come-first-served basis, but as the number of applications increased, the process was changed to a lottery system.

Analysts say the rule leads to the delayed release of popular movies from the Chinese mainland in Taiwan. For example, Ash is Purest White, which was popular in 2018, will be broadcast in Taiwan after two years when it is already available online.

The Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council published 31 measures to benefit the island of Taiwan in February 2018, which placing no limits on the number of films and TV series produced in Taiwan that can be introduced in the Chinese mainland.

Xin Zhiyu, a producer of TV dramas from Taiwan, said that the beneficial policy can promote cultural exchanges in film and TV between the island and the mainland, and can offer more relevant work opportunities in Taiwan.

Global Times