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The recently concluded 10th Al Jazeera International Documentary Film Festival in Qatar featured 17 films produced by Chinese filmmakers, according to a China Daily report.
A total of 161 films from 60 countries vied for awards at the festival, which happened at The Ritz-Carlton Doha from Oct. 23 to 26. The entries included 34 long, 51 medium, 45 short and 31 new horizon films, which were chosen from 910 films submitted by filmmakers from 100 countries, said a report by The Peninsula Qatar last month.
Acclaimed Chinese documentary director Liang Bibo was among the judges at the festival. During an interview, he said that Chinese documentary film directors, producers and writers are at par with foreign films in terms of how they are viewed by film enthusiasts.
"I think, speaking in general, the perception of our country's filmmakers in documentary is at the same level with foreigners," Liang said.
Abbas Arnaout, the festival's president, has said plaudits for Chinese filmmaking, too, saying it has progressed significantly over the years.
"We have seen three or four films. Besides that they are good films, that they been made in a good way, they also have human interest, which I like very much," said Arnaout, who visits China on an almost regular basis.
The first Al Jazeera International Documentary Film Festival took place in 2004. It has gained international recognition, particularly in Arab and Asian countries.
In an interview with the Peninsula Qatar last month, festival president Arnaout said that festival-goers would expect to see quality films that met the high standards of the festival, which has earned a distinction for itself in the past decade.
