Dubbed TV series promote Chinese culture abroad

An international poster for Chinese film "Go LA LA Go!"[Photo: China Plus]

Chinese films and TV dramas, dubbed in foreign languages, are said to be gaining traction in international markets and helping to introduce the Chinese way of life to foreign audiences.

Their international popularity has been showcased at the ongoing Beijing International Film Festival.

The Beijing Film Market event has been a major trade component of the Beijing International Film Festival, focusing on the exhibition, promotion, exchange and communication among TV and film industries of various countries. At this year's event, well-known Chinese films and TV dramas that were dubbed into foreign languages have been highlighted. They include the English version of TV series "Beijing Love Story," the Russian version of series "Dream of the Red Chamber," the Arabic version of film "Go LA LA Go!" and the Portugese version of drama series "Beautiful Daughter-in-law."

National Multi-lingual Movie & TV Translation and Production Base, established by China Radio International, has translated more than 7,000 episodes or pieces of Chinese films, TV series, documentaries and animations into 23 different languages. Deals have been signed with mainstream media organizations from more than 30 countries to broadcast these programs. In 2015, the first of such programs was launched in Egypt, immediately generating great interest among audiences.

An international poster for Chinese animnation "The Adventure of Little Carp."[Photo: China Plus]

"The first Arabic- dubbed drama "Jin Tailang's Happy Life" was broadcast on Egypt's state television and received very good responses. For the first time, Egyptian audiences watched Chinese TV dramas. They liked it very much. Since then, Chinese television shows have been continuously broadcast on state-run Egyptian television stations. We are working with our Chinese partners to promote a project, which will open a special Chinese channel in Egypt to continuously broadcast Chinese TV dramas,"said Ashraf, the head of the Egyptian partner Vibration Studio.

Meanwhile, in Pakistan, the Urdu version of the Chinese TV series "Beijing Youth" is being broadcast. Mona, a local teacher, has become an avid fan of the program. "The relationship of the four brothers is very interesting and very touching too. This drama TV has given inside of Chinese people, and I've never talked with young Chinese people and share the same thought. They face the similar problems like we do in Pakistan. After watching the drama, I have understood China. I have better understanding about China and Chinese people, and I would really want to visit China sometime in the future," said Mona. 

When Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Tanzania in March 2013, he mentioned in his speech that the Swahili version of the Chinese TV series "Beautiful Daughter-in-law" was broadcast in Tanzania. In 2014, Xi Jinping presented the Spanish version of "Beijing Youth", "The Elderly with Love" and "Love Is Not Blind" to Argentina as national gifts.

Victoria from the Ukrainian State Film Agency said she looks forward to cooperation in films and TV between her country and China. "Chinese content will find its year in Ukraine, because your culture is so rich, and your cinema is really in the high level now, and that's why I really hope there will be big rooms for Chinese content in our country. I think there is room for co-production of series between our countries. We will combine Chinese stories with Ukrainian actors, or vice versa. That mixture of culture will work, so I think we should work more on co-production of TV series together," said Victoria.

This year, the National Multi-lingual Movie & TV Translation and Production Base will dub more Chinese productions with many languages, including Arabic, Portuguese, Swahili and Ukrainian, so as to introduce them and more Chinese stories to overseas audiences.