An animated movie made entirely in China by Hong Kong-based company Global Digital Creations will make its debut this week at the Cannes film festival in France.
Raymond Neoh, chief executive officer, said "Thru the Moebius Strip", is the first computer graphic film made by the company.
"It is all made in China," he said.
The Festival De Cannes will screen "Thru the Moebius Strip" which is created by French graphic artist Jean Giraud.
Giraud has worked on the design and storyboards for famous films including "Tron", "Alien" and "The Fifth Element".
"Thru the Moebius Strip" is a fantasy story about a young boy who travels to a remote planet of giants to find his father, a physicist, who disappeared into a transportation portal that he built by himself.
Neoh said the Canne screen is a first step.
He's confident his film will gain a nomination for next year's Oscars.
After pre-production was completed in 2000, work continued on the project involving a local university in Shenzhen.
Neoh helped set up the Institute of Digital Media Technology Ltd a studio that provides training courses on computer graphics creation and production for Chinese students.
"It is a school rather than a company," he said. "In order to set up the digital content industry in China and also in Asia, we must have qualified people first."
Hundreds of students attended the classes and after graduation some stayed on to work for the company.
More than 300 employees and students have been involved in the production of "Thru the Moebius Strip."
"It took us nearly four years to make the movie," he said.
"We have accomplished something that has never been done before in China or in Asia."
Neoh said the movie rivals productions such as "Shrek" and "Finding Nemo".
It cost about US$20 million to make.
"Ten years from now, computer-generated animated films will be produced in Asia."
"We have the advantage as we are able to produce the movie quicker, of a high standard at a lower cost," Neoh said.
"China has become a market that everyone wants to enter," he said. "The digital industry will boom soon as we have the largest game and cell phone market which both involve computer graphics."
Last year, Neoh set up a branch office in Shanghai, with the aim of growing the training business throughout China.
He is also planning to move the company's mainland headquarters from Shenzhen to the city in September.
"Shanghai is a natural choice," he said. "Throughout the history, it has always been the business center of China."
Assistance will also be sought from the Changning District, where Neoh has an office in the Shanghai Multimedia Park.
"In some other parts of Asia, such as Singapore and South Korea, they all have specialized government departments to help handle the digital content development industry," he said.
"I didn't really have any idea about the opportunities available in the city. The district government actively encouraged me to come here."
"I'm glad to be here, but I am still looking forward to more help from the government."
He said he is losing money in training local students because of the high costs associated with that business.
He said rent is particularly expensive.
"The government must start realizing just how important the industry is."
"The government should do more by providing extra funds for this growing industry."
"The future of this industry rests on the training and development we provide today," he said.
"I believe that one day, we will build and lead the digital content development industry in Asia."