HOUSTON, March 29 (Xinhua) -- Co-production of films between Chinese and U.S. entertainment industries in the next few years will help to bring the two countries closer, WorldFest-Houston Chairman Hunter Todd said Thursday.

In a news briefing regarding the upcoming film festival, Todd said the WorldFest Focus on China, a unit of the event, will be the largest single focus on Chinese cinema in the festival world.

"WorldFest-Houston's presentation of Chinese films is the largest spotlight on the great cinema of China," he said.

Todd told Xinhua that he considers the WorldFest Focus on China as a platform providing opportunities for emerging Chinese directors.

He also acknowledged a strong business reason behind the project, saying "The film production values of China, the box office attains of China are now No. 1 in the world."

In the meantime, Todd announced that his team and a Chinese partner "are moving forward to a multi-million-dollar co-production of a new science fiction film" to be produced in both China and the United States.

He said this film will be his first major co-production with a Chinese partner and will be directed by Randal Kleiser, a renowned WorldFest-Houston's alumnus, the list of which includes Steven Spielberg, Ang Lee and David Winning.

The 51st edition of WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival is scheduled for April 20-29 in Houston, the fourth biggest city in the United States and the largest in the state of Texas.

The film festival will showcase 50 new independent feature films and 108 award-winning shorts from over 70 countries and regions across the globe.

As part of the festival, the 4th edition of WorldFest Focus on China will premiere almost 20 feature films as well as several short subjects from China, providing Houston audiences the opportunity to enjoy the emerging Chinese cinema.