Man realizes villagers’ dream of watching film

Over 30 years ago, Tong Gemin, then 20, returned from military service to his hometown Qiemo county in Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. Following his father, he became a film screener. Qiemo County is located in the south of Taklimakan Desert and is 1,200 kilometers away from the capital of Urumqi. His father used to walk dozens of kilometers with a donkey carrying appliances to screen films. Tong carries on the task after his father died and has screened more than 300 films for over 10,000 villagers annually. In recent years, due to rural digital film development, he has been able reach more remote areas with special vehicles provided by the government. Still, some villages can only be reached on foot. He carries on the work even in the hardest time in the film industry because of his love for film screening, as well as for his hometown. He was credited as outstanding individual of film screening by authorities. Today, he is still engaged with the work. Currently there are 571 film screening groups and nearly 1,000 screeners in Xinjiang.

Tong Gemin (left) heads for Kulamuleke village with his assistant and a donkey loaded with film showing appliances on Oct 5, 2011. Situated at an altitude of about 3,000 meters in Kunlun mountain area, the village has little communication with the outside world. [Photo/Xinhua]