Chinese film makers wow the BBC

Wenlan Peng's fascinating talk won audiences' enthusiastic applause and the most genuine appreciation.

The indepent television producer, who has also worked with BBC World Service as a documentary consultant from '06 to '07, gave her speech based on the experience that she trained the Chinese film makers to explore social issues in west part of China.

School on the Cliff

The documentary, highly praised by Ms peng, has also won the couple (illustrated in the film) a big fame, they became one of the best personalities out of 100 in China last year.

School on the Cliff has explored the education situation in one of the villages of Yi minority in Sichuan province, western China.

Mr. xxx and his wife have been teaching in the school for nearly 20 years.

Before he came here as a volunteer, the school had been closed for more than 10 years, which means every single child in this village had stopped compulsory education for such a long period.

Against all the odds, including his wife's complaint from the very start, seperation with his own sons and families, severe conditions of his home on the cliff.

He determined to continue his teaching at the school, and he is more than clear that if he gives up, children here will lose their only chance to receive proper education.

It is hard to imagine that due to the school's difficult location, instead of the proper road to reach it, every child has to climb the dangerous ladder which connects the top and bottom of the cliff.

The film beat other 19 contestants from the project, which has also been broadcasted in BBC World Service.

Self-cencorship

China media, including television, radio and the press are still under rigid state control and continues to be used as a propaganda tool. It only allows to project the positive, bright and inspring view of life.

Documentaries, which are the films supposed to explore social issues or provide critical point of view on society, are not permitted to talk openly about negative things under government control.

According to Ms Peng, the more government wants to hide it, the more problems cannot be solved. If let us just honestly face them, probably things will be going better.

The Meridian Society

Ms Peng also introduced audiences the charity - The Meridian Society she has run.

The charity aims to promote Chinese culture and increase the Sino-British understanding through range of events organised, including the coverage of social issues on Chinese television.