ANG LEE: CHINA WILL DOMINATE INTERNATIONAL BOX OFFICE IN 10 YEARS

Within ten years, Chinese-language films will likely surpass Hollywood films at the international box office, Oscar-winning director Ang Lee (Brokeback Mountain, Life of Pi) predicted at a news conference in Taipei today (Tuesday). He insisted that it won’t be necessary for Chinese films to court Western audiences in order to do so, noting that the Chinese-speaking population of the world “is probably four times more than English-speaking people. So I think as long as we are influential in the Chinese-speaking world, I think we will prevail.” Lee was in his homeland to preside over the jury at the upcoming Golden Horse Film Awards on November 23. The event — this year marks its 50th anniversary — spotlights films from mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore.