China will grant subsidies to promising young film directors to improve their working conditions,according to the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT).

Innovative, high-potential young directors whose films have won awards at international film festivals or won widespread audience acclaim will receive the subsidies, a SARFT official said here Thursday.

Subsidies will be available each year, the official said.

The first group of young directors chosen for this year are sixteen directors under the age of 45 including Lu Chuan, Ning Hao and Jia Zhangke.

In September 2006, director Jia Zhangke took home the Golden Lion award for best movie from the 63rd Venice Film Festival with "Still Life".

Ning Hao's black comedy "Crazy Stone" has been a big hit at the box office since its release in June 2006, reaping over 22 million yuan (2.75 million U.S. dollars) at a cost of just three million yuan (375,000 U.S. dollars).

Lu Chuan is known for his very moving "Kekexili Mountain Patrol," a film about saving the Tibetan antelope from ruthless poachers.

The government subsidies are a way of recognizing their achievements and improving their working conditions, and will encourage them to make more good films, the official said.

According to the SARFT, each of the 16 directors will receive 500,000 yuan (64,000 U.S. dollars) for their new movies. The black comedy "Crazy Racing Car" may be the first new film to get the subsidy.

The government will also adopt supportive film release policies, the official said.

The official also said a lack of genuine content is one of the reasons that several blockbusters have failed to win audience acclaim despite high box office revenue.

Films should not focus just on huge investment and spectacular scenes, the official said.

In 2007, China will increase the variety of homemade films and encourage the production of low and medium budget films which are both entertaining and artistic, according to the SARFT plan.