FILE: London, UK - Aug 15, 2023 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
1. Poster of Chinese documentary "The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru"

Beijing, China - March 18, 2025 (CGTN - No access Chinese mainland)
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Yang Jianfei, director, Department of Cultural Industries Management, Communication University of China (ending with shots 3-6):
"I think the most important cultural themes are humanity, courage, and the search for truth. The film, for the first time, presents the complete history of the Lisbon Maru sinking. In the film, the rescue of British prisoners by Chinese fishermen is a very important witness to China and the UK fighting side by side in World War II. It reflects the deep friendship between the two peoples by showing the cruelty of war and the value of life. The film promotes the audience to reflect on war and cherish peace. It has very important educational significance for the younger generation to understand history and promote cultural understanding between the two nations."

London, UK - March 17, 2025 (CGTN - No access Chinese mainland)
3. Sign advertising UK premiere of "The Sinking of The Lisbon Maru", audience members entering Regent Street Cinema
4. Poster of "The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru" premiere in UK
5. Various of audience members
6. Various of ongoing organ recital, audience

FILE: London, UK - Aug 15, 2023 (Courtesy of The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru)
7. Clip of "The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru"

Beijing, China - March 18, 2025 (CGTN - No access Chinese mainland)
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Yang Jianfei, director, Department of Cultural Industries Management, Communication University of China (starting with shot 7/ending with shots 9-10):
"I think the film will make a very good contribution to cultural exchange between China and the UK. It allows the British people to learn about the wonderful deeds of the Chinese in saving British prisoners of war, which helps to fill in the gaps in the historical memories of both countries. Some British audiences may be more familiar with the situation of British prisoners of war, but they may not be very clear about the specific details of the Chinese people's rescue. Anyway, I think through the film, the British audience can understand the Chinese people's kindness, courage, and sense of justice, which promotes the mutual understanding of the cultures of the two peoples."

FILE: London, UK - Aug 15, 2023 (Courtesy of The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru)
9. Various of clips of "The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru"

FILE: China - 2024 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
10. Various of pictures, newspaper clippings about historical event on wall

The Chinese-made historical documentary "The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru," which tells the story of Chinese fishermen heroically rescuing British prisoners of war (POWs) during World War II, is a testament of friendship between China and Britain and is expected to deepen mutual understanding between the two nations, a Chinese cultural studies professor said on Tuesday.

Released in China last September, the 123-minute documentary includes extensive interviews with witnesses and their descendants from China's Zhoushan Islands and Hong Kong, as well as from Britain, the United States, and Japan.

In October 1942, the "Lisbon Maru", a cargo vessel requisitioned by the Japanese army to transport more than 1,800 British POWs from Hong Kong to Japan, was sunk accidentally by the U.S. army off the Zhoushan Islands in China's Zhejiang Province. Local fishermen risked their lives to rescue over 300 POWs.

The documentary premiered in London on Monday, with more than 100 relatives of British POWs who had been aboard the ill-fated ship attending the premiere.

In an online interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN), Yang Jianfei, director of the Department of Cultural Industries Management at the Communication University of China, highlighted the documentary's significance.

"I think the most important cultural themes are humanity, courage, and the search for truth. The film, for the first time, presents the complete history of the Lisbon Maru sinking. In the film, the rescue of British prisoners by Chinese fishermen is a very important witness to China and the UK fighting side by side in World War II. It reflects the deep friendship between the two peoples by showing the cruelty of war and the value of life. The film promotes the audience to reflect on war and cherish peace. It has very important educational significance for the younger generation to understand history and promote cultural understanding between the two nations," he said.

According to Yang, this historical documentary also fills in some historical gaps and enhances cultural relations and exchanges between China and the UK.

"I think the film will make a very good contribution to cultural exchange between China and the UK. It allows the British people to learn about the wonderful deeds of the Chinese in saving British prisoners of war, which helps to fill in the gaps in the historical memories of both countries. Some British audiences may be more familiar with the situation of British prisoners of war, but they may not be very clear about the specific details of the Chinese people's rescue. Anyway, I think through the film, the British audience can understand the Chinese people's kindness, courage, and sense of justice, which promotes the mutual understanding of the cultures of the two peoples," he said.