Photo: Courtesy of Mango TV

As the 25th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland approaches,mk multiple films and TV series have been released in tribute. "With the ongoing integration of the Greater Bay Area, film exchanges between the Chinese mainland and Macao are undergoing rapid and positive development," Zuo Heng, a professor from the China Film Art Research Center, told the Global Times.

The TV series Begin Again, which began airing on Wednesday, focuses on the lives of young people in Macao, depicting stories of "love and courage" intertwined through the "unexpected encounters" of mainland youths who come to Macao. The series also offers a glimpse of 

Macao's scenic beauty and its cultural atmosphere.

The mainland produced the film Promise of Decades, simultaneously released in Hong Kong and Macao administrative regions, tells a love story spanning over 20 years, reflecting the progress and development of Macao since its return to China. Meanwhile, the movie The Fortune Tower, to be released on Thursday, portrays the life experiences of two generations of Macao residents and their deep love for their hometown and the motherland.

"In recent years, co-produced films have become the mainstream method for promoting film exchanges between the mainland and Macao," Zuo noted. "Through collaboration, filmmakers are not only able to blend the cultural essence of both regions but also achieve resource complementarity and mutual benefits."

Zuo pointed out that Macao's film industry started early, with its earliest works dating back to 1995. At that time, although the industry was still in its infancy, many mainland creators had already gotten involved. As the industry in Macao gradually developed, its unique cultural characteristics began to emerge.

"Over the past few decades, Macao has been highly receptive to film creation, especially in terms of the rapid pace of cultural integration," Zuo said.

With the advancement of the Greater Bay Area development, culture has been recognized as one of the key links to promote overall development. Macao, with its open and free environment, holds a unique advantage as a platform for both bringing foreign films into China and introducing Chinese films to the world, according to a report by CCTV.

Zuo noted that cross-regional collaboration, with its diverse cultural backgrounds, creative methods, and resource sharing, offers more possibilities for film creation.