Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao expressed his hope for a continuously improving Beijing Film Academy in a handwritten congratulatory letter to the leading Chinese film school, dubbed the "cradle of China's filmmakers", as it celebrated its 60th founding anniversary on Saturday.

State Councilor Liu Yandong also sent a congratulatory letter to the school, urging it to significantly improve the artists' originality and the integrity of the school's students.

The Beijing Film Academy is the only school on the Chinese mainland that specializes in the study of cinematography. Its long list of prominent graduates includes many of the country's most important directors and popular movie celebrities.

Among these directors are Zhang Yimou, winner of the top award at the Venice Film Festival and Chen Kaige, the only Chinese mainland director ever to win the top prize at Festival de Cannes.