China's most prestigious film contest will give awards to foreign films for the first time in Sanya City, Hainan Province.

Eight awards will be shared by some of the 21 foreign films to be shown during the 14th Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Film Festival, slated for November 9-12 in the famous city of beach resort in the Hainan Island.

The international awards include the most popular films, directors, actors and actresses for Chinese audiences, according to the China Film Artists Association, the organizer of the event.

The 21 candidate films were made between 2004 and 2005 in a dozen countries including South Korea, Russia, the US, Japan, Sweden, Australia, France, Germany and Austria, said an official with the association, but none of them has been shown in China so far.

The organizing committee is planning to choose ten ordinary people from the audience, whose opinions will be a key criteria on selecting the films.

However, the committee said the final formation of the judging team is yet to be decided.

The romantic Titanic, the Spider Man and a large number of foreign movies have topped the Chinese box office and are even fascinating numerous Chinese audience. However, none of them has been given a formal award in any state-level film festival in China.

The festival, which presents Golden Rooster Awards and Hundred Flowers Awards in alternate years to outstanding films and artists in China, is the most prestigious and influential film event in China.

As usual, the festival will grant awards to 15 selected domestic films for the year past.

Now, it's trying to get closer to international film circles in an attempt to improve Chinese film-making, said an unnamed official with the China Film Association.

The two awards and the Huabiao Awards are known as the three most important domestic awards for Chinese films.

Meanwhile, activities are scheduled to be held during the festival to mark the 100th anniversary of Chinese film.

(Xinhua News Agency November 7, 2005)