The 1st annual meeting on the aesthetics of Chinese films was held in Changchun, Jilin province from Sept 5 to 6 to discuss the development of film aesthetics in China.

Nearly 20 specialists and scholars participated in the discussion and offered their perspectives on the ways of presenting Chinese films on the silver screen.

"We are searching for a way to combine classic western style with distinctive Chinese culture, and thus to tell stories based on Chinese realities at a more advanced level," said Lu Liang, chief of the Arts Division of the National Film Bureau.

The aesthetics of realistic films were pondered upon during the meeting. According to Ding Yaping, a researcher at the Chinese National Academy of Arts, to cultivate a realistic film aesthetic, Chinese filmmakers need to respond to the latest needs of the people while fully recognizing the significant value of Chinese culture.

"A mature, realistic film needs to muster multiple artistic skills to not only offer the audiences with sensational pleasures, but also provide them with humanity interpretations and moral reflections," said Yu Kailiang, professor of the Renmin University of China.

As one of the main activities organized during the 14th Changchun Film Festival, the meeting also gave much thought to various topics concerning the transformation of aesthetic ideas in commercial movies and the reconstruction of aesthetics in Chinese films.