The initiative - a partnership between Alibaba Pictures, Youku Tudou Inc, Beijing Film Academy and the Communication University of China - will groom filmmakers under 45-years- old across the world, said Zhang Qiang, CEO of Alibaba Pictures.
Selected candidates will get an opportunity to work under one of three noted mentors of film-making: Anthony LaMolinara, winner of visual effects of the 77th Annual Academy Awards, Hollywood director Renny Harlin and Chinese director Zhang Yibai.
Alibaba Pictures Group is a Chinese film company which was formerly known as ChinaVision Media. Alibaba Group bought a majority stake of the company late last year and renamed it as Alibaba Pictures Group.
By June this year it was the largest Chinese film company by worth, with a market value of USD 9.6 billion.