How China’s Film Industry Developing?
China’s film industry has witnessed significant transformations in the past few years and experienced substantial growth. This is one of the most discussed topics these days, and many try to understand what is happening.
China’s film in history
China first integrated cinema in 1896, and the first Chinese film, “Mount Dingjun”, was made in 1905 and from that moment on, Chinese cinema entered a turbulent journey of censorship, creative evolution, and various moments of international success. In the early decades, the film industry was concentrated in Shanghai. The 1920s were dominated by small studios and commercial films, especially in the wuxia action genre.
There are 16 major studios and 32 distribution companies in China. The world’s largest film studio is Hengdian World Studios. The studio consists of 30 outdoor shooting bases and 130 indoor shooting areas, with a total area of up to 330 hectares and a building area of 495,995 sq. More than 1,200 films and series have been filmed here, including Ang Lee’s Oscar-winning films “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”, “The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor”, a Hollywood co-production using studio sets, and the popular live-action game “Mulan” released on Disney+ in 2020 in the United States. The studio was also used to film “The Forbidden Kingdom”, the first on-screen collaboration between actors Jackie Chan and Jet Li.
Factors affecting China’s filmmaking sector
The impact of the 2019 coronavirus disease pandemic affected the global film market in 2020, but the Chinese film industry was the first to recover and, as a result, took a leading position. And it seems like, after Covid, China put a lot of effort and could reach new heights.
China has entered a new era of filmmaking, which has outstanding actors, compelling stories, technological breakthroughs, and carefully chosen background music, and therefore the film will do well at the box office.
The number of high-quality movies filmed by Chinese studios has increased, and new records were set in the film industry, in terms of box-office sales, wider audience, and revenues.
One of the main factors driving the growth of China’s film industry is the government’s focus on promoting and supporting the development of this sector, which includes measures such as providing tax breaks for film production and investing in modern film studios and equipment.
In addition, there is growth among the people of the middle class in the country, consequently growth in their income. This has led to a higher demand for entertainment, which includes films. As a result, more and more people go to the cinema and spend money on tickets. So, going to the cinema became an available time-passing option for a big number of inhabitants.
The streaming services that allow people to access and watch movies also contributed to the rise of China’s film industry. This resulted in many films’ distribution and popularity not only in China but in different countries.
FILMART – annual film festival in Hong Kong
A bold factor that contributed to the development of China’s film industry is the annual famous FILMART film festival (Hong Kong International Film & TV Market). Every year, FILMART brings together more than 8,000 merchant buyers from over 50 countries and regions to develop partnerships, close business deals, and discuss the latest market trends.
FILMART is Asia’s largest entertainment market covering various aspects of the value chain, including television, digital entertainment, documentaries, distribution, production, post-production, movie sets, film and broadcast equipment, film financing, etc. World-famous manufacturers, distributors, investors, and professionals use FILMART to launch promotions, connect with key industry players, and close deals.
Chinese signature film genre
This comes as no surprise that China has set new records and achieved new heights in the film industry, and all this is due to their specific tastes in filmmaking. During these years, many surveys were done and as result action films, comedies, melodramas, and romcoms get the highest box office and the highest ratings from the audience.
But among these genres, one is the favorite and loved by the audience – patriotic films. This is a genre that evokes a “feeling of pride” in the viewer and they love it.
Patriotism is the spiritual bond of the Chinese people and unites all ethnic groups in China. It is usually characterized by upholding national unity, resisting the invasion of foreign forces, upholding the national ideal of humanity and justice, and caring for Chinese culture. Patriotism develops in real conditions at different stages of development.
Most popular films by Chinese studios
From hundreds of film genres, patriotic ones became highly popular among the audience. Chinese filmmakers are constantly in search of unique ways to produce patriotic works that will present deep thinking and entertainment at the same time. As result, they have amazing works, such as “The Battle at Lake Changjin” (2021) and “Wolf Warrior 2” (2017).
Many other excellent works have also been stunningly executed. Another record-breaking film, “My People, My Country” (2019), is an anthology drama film, consisting of seven parts, directed by seven different directors. The epic film is commemorating the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. The film was the first Chinese film to be released in 10 and more European countries.
The hit “Ne Zha” (2019), a fantasy adventure film is in fourth place among the Top highest-grossing Chinese films, and it conquered many people’s hearts. The film was adapted from a traditional Chinese folk myth, and it became the highest-grossing 3D computer-animated film in China.
Introducing Beijing Film Academy
China has become the world’s fastest-growing film market. In 2012, China witnessed a box office of $ 2.7 billion, becoming the world’s second largest film market after the United States. With an annual output of over 600 feature films, China now has a growing need for filmmaking talents.
We welcome young people from all over the world who love movie industry and are willing to work in filmmaking area to join BFA and learn the art and skill of filmmaking together with Chinese students. We hope film talents from different cultural backgrounds can mingle and grow together here in BFA.
Read more about BFA here, and get more information on the Beijing Film Academy deadline for the next intake on China Admissions! Check out these articles to give you more information:
Study at Beijing Film Academy: the Home of Chinese Cinema
Curriculum of the Film Production Program at Beijing Film Academy
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