Yue Chong (right), vice governor of Zhejiang province, and Xi Meijuan (left), vice president of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles, jointly unveil the nameplate of the Huace Film Academy on Sept 10 in Tongxiang, Zhejiang province. [Photo/eol.cn]

Zhejiang University of Media and Communications and Huace Group, a leading film and TV production company, opened a new film academy to train China's next generation of movie and TV stars in Tongxiang, Zhejiang province on Sept 10.

The Huace Film Academy will be located inside the Tongxiang campus of the university.

The academy's mixed ownership structure is expected to provide students with excellent opportunities to gain a rounded education in what it takes to make it in China's film and TV industry.

Undergraduates will undertake a "2+2"-style course, spending their first two years studying theory with ZUMC's professors and industry experts, before spending their final two years focusing on gaining practical experience with the support of Huace's production resources.

Zhejiang Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television and the Tongxiang government will provide support for the academy, contributing to its teaching and talent cultivation, as well as the construction of a base for film and television training.

Yuan Jiajun, governor of Zhejiang province, said at the opening ceremony for the academy that he thought the academy's innovative mixed ownership model would help it make a big contribution to the cultural development of Zhejiang.

Yu Yang, former president of the China Film Society of Performing Arts, was appointed as the honorary dean of Huace Film Academy during the ceremony.

A number of renowned actors will also serve as honorary advisors to the academy.

Beijing Xuezhirenhe International Education Investment Group has announced that it will set up a scholarship fund of 1 million yuan ($153,000) for the academy.

Famous Chinese performance artists are appointed as honorary advisors for the academy. [Photo/eol.cn]