China's film industry booms, coproductions grow

The coproduction Kung Fu Panda 3. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Rise in coproductions

Six countries - the highest record for one year since 2012 - signed film-coproduction treaties with China from January to September. That makes for 20 foreign countries currently.

Newcomers include Russia, Brazil, Luxembourg, Kazakhstan, Denmark and Greece.

"The model of coproducing films is developing very well," says Tong.

"Chinese filmmakers have established close relations with Hollywood's major studios. A number of Sino-US film projects are underway."

Miao Xiaotian, general manager of China Film Co-Production Corp, echoes Tong's views.

The company, founded in 1979, is the sole agency authorized by China's top movie regulator to approve coproduction titles.

"The United States is the first and the most active player to explore an effective formula to win Chinese audiences," says Miao.

He says 12 movies, or 16 percent of the 73 approved coproductions last year, are Sino-US projects.

China expanded the annual quota of foreign movies on the basis of sharing box-office revenue from 20 to 34 in 2012.