Free outdoor movie: A part of rural life

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A screen, a projector, a pair of speakers and some chairs – villagers in rural Sichuan Province set up their own cinema with these simple tools and it's all for free. In an open air, it's really a nice place for neighbors to hang out and watch movies.

Ning Hongchun is among the villagers who love watching movies and often come to enjoy their kind of nightlife. She heard about the playing time and location from the local radio station and came by herself. For most villagers, movies about farmers and rural lives are more popular because they resonate with their own experiences.

Villagers enjoy free movie in the open air in Shuangle township, Sichuan Province. /CGTN Photo

Local official Lai Weiyou is responsible for organizing such events. He told CGTN how to select movies for villagers: "We mainly play comedies, feature films and local documentaries. Each time we also play short videos that educate farmers how to grow crops and plants."

They organize such activities at least once in each village every month and local villagers can join for free.

Projectionist monitors the big screen when playing a film. /CGTN Photo

There are over 80 projectionists serving for 932 villages in this county. They travel back and forth to play movies. Liu Anxiang is one of them. He has played more than 3,000 films since 1980. "I feel very proud and satisfied doing my job, especially when I see the villagers' happy faces," he said.

It is part of the country's cultural program to display movies for rural residents in remote areas so they are connected with the outside world through the big screen.

CGTN anchor Li Qiuyuan joins local villagers to watch outdoor movie in Shuangle township, Sichuan Province. /CGTN Photo

The State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television allocates financial aids to film regulators at all levels. It officially started in 2007 but has a long history even before cinemas were built in cities.

Outdoor movie is just one of the cultural activities organized by the local government, and it's hoped this could enrich people's mind and inspire changes.

Speaking of the future plan, local official says it will still exist for many years to come but villagers will also have other options as the county is building cinemas in towns and expanding internet access to make sure no one is left behind.