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Chinese films come of age
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2005-01-02 21:44
After ten years' defeat at the box office by foreign films, Chinese films
finally won the domestic battle in 2004. According to the State Administration
of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT), box office revenue in China exceeded 1.5
billion yuan (US$182 million) in 2004, with Chinese films taking up 55 percent
of the market share.
The top three films in China
last year were "House of Flying Daggers," "A World Without Thieves" and "Kong
Fu Hustle," all of which are Chinese, a distinct turn from the past
foreign-film- dominated box office.
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Hong Kong comedy
star and director Stephen Chow (L) and mainland actress Huang Shengyi
attend their film premiere "Kung Fu Hustle" in Hong Kong December 16,
2004. The movie will be on general relase on December 23.
[Reuters]
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Zhang Yimou's "House of Flying Daggers," has made 153 million yuan (US$18.5
million), far exceeding the "The Lord of the Rings"Film industry analysts
estimate the two Chinese New Year blockbuster films "A World Without Thieves"
and "Kong Fu Hustle" have already made up to 200 million yuan (US$24 million).
Chinese director Lu Chuan's film "Kekexili: Mountain Patrol", about the
protection of wild animals in northwest China, also made good performance.
"2004 was the year that Chinese films made their greatest leap, " said Weng
Li, vice manager of the film exhibition and distribution arm of China Film
Group, China's biggest film producer and the only company authorized to import
foreign films.
According to SARFT, China produced 212 films in
2004, 80 percent of which were either funded by private capital or
foreign investment.
(From left to right) Li Bingbing, Ge You and
Fan Bingbing pose for a photo before the premiere of "A World Without
Thieves" in Beijing Exhibition Center Monday, December 6, 2004.
[Sohu] |
Of the top three box winners of 2004, "House of Flying Daggers" was financed
by privately-owned Beijing New Picture Distribution Co. LTD and "A World Without
Thieves" and "Kong Fu Hustle" were both produced by privately-owned Huayi
Brothers, one of the mainland's most commercially successful film and TV
production companies.
"Kekexili""Chinese films are moving to the international track, thanks to the
vitality private investment has brought to them," said a Chinese film critic.
In October 2004, US film giant Warner Brothers Pictures set up China's first
movie production joint venture with China Film Group and the privately run
Hengdian Group.
In November 2004, China announced it would let foreign companies take up to
49 percent of stakes in local television production companies, giving
international media better access to the world's biggest market.
Yang Buting, chairman of China Film Group, called the loosening restrictions
on Chinese film industry "an unprecedented golden chance."
However, the box office gains last year cannot make Chinese films live
"happily ever after."
According to China's WTO commitments, foreign films meeting import
qualifications will swarm into China to taste the long- coveted Chinese market.
"A battle for market share is in store," said Zhu Hong, SARTF spokesperson.
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