"Chinese movies have secured a dominating share in the domestic market, with more than 60 percent of the total box office raked from domestic works on average within recent years. Now, more Chinese filmmakers are endeavoring to seek an expansion in overseas markets," says Yu.
Also known for producing blockbusters like Hidden Blade, Yu summarizes three steps for Chinese films to go abroad — inviting more international buyers to Beijing, shooting more coproductions and aiming for a box-office season specifically for Chinese movies.
"I believe Chinese films have the capability to release simultaneously at home and abroad. So, just like Hollywood builds their most lucrative box-office seasons during Christmas and summer periods, we could aim at Spring Festival, a holiday that may draw over 70 million overseas Chinese to admire the stories from their homeland," says Yu.
"Chinese films right now are at a high point of their reputation internationally," says Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck, a German director best known for the Oscar-winning The Lives of Others.
Donnersmarck, who has lived in Los Angeles for 15 years, has also observed that when Chinese films selected to contend for the Academy Awards' best foreign language entry are shown in theaters, they tend to attract a full house, although that is not always the case for films from other countries.
He also says that China has created and maintained an attractive structure for talented filmmakers, commenting that the country can be considered somewhat of a paradise for filmmaking with adequate investment and rich resources.
