Nicolas Cage (C) is interviewed at the opening ceremony of the Hainan Island Film Museum on Dec 11. [Photo by Sha Xiaofeng/hinews.cn]

A-list movie star Nicolas Cage cut the ribbon for the opening ceremony of the Hainan Island Film Museum in Sanya on Dec 11.

He commended the completion of the museum and showed a desire to work with Chinese filmmakers in the future. He said, "The museum is very beautiful, very informed, and I learned a lot. I like Hainan very much, it's a very great place to make movies, and I know it'll be successful."

The museum is now showcasing China's reform and opening-up over the past 40 years and commemorating major events in the Chinese film industry through images and videos. Running for six months, this museum exhibition further increases the province's attractiveness to tourists.

Nicolas Cage (C) addresses the opening ceremony of the Hainan Island Film Museum on Dec 11. [Photo by Sha Xiaofeng/hinews.cn]

In the 1970s, China's film industry only produced about 50 films per year, grossing a total of one billion yuan ($145.2 million). However, the output had increased to 700 per year by 2017, generating 55 billion yuan in revenue.

The Hainan International Film Festival started on Dec 9 and will run until Dec 16. It has adopted a new model that incorporates people, regions and industrial chains in order to build a platform that facilitates exchanges, cooperation and trade among international film markets that can make the most of the preferential policies of the pilot free trade zone.

Many renowned figures in the film industry from home and abroad have confirmed that they will attend the festival, making it feel more professional and giving it more exposure. The festival is aimed at making the Chinese film market, the second largest in the world, more open and competitive.

Representatives and guests take a group photo at the opening ceremony of the Hainan Island Film Museum on Dec 11. [Photo by Sha Xiaofeng/hinews.cn]