Beijing shines as hub of filmmaking

Companies attracted by high-quality development in Chaoyang district

Chinese movies The Battle at Lake Changjin, Hi, Mom and The Wandering Earth have achieved remarkable results at the domestic box office. Also, they are all Beijing productions.

Positioned to be a hub for film production and innovation, Beijing, renowned for its rich cultural resources in China, has been dedicated to advancing the development of the film industry. It continuously refines industrial support policies, fosters innovative resources and cultivates an open and dynamic industry landscape.

In 2023, Beijing-produced films secured four spots out of the top 10 domestic films at the box office, generating a total box office revenue of 13.44 billion yuan ($1.89 billion). The city also solidified its presence across the industry chain, encompassing creation, production, distribution and screening.

Chaoyang district of Beijing, home to the National Cultural Industry Innovation Experiment Zone, serves as one of the most important gathering places for film production businesses in Beijing.

According to official figures, in 2023, Beijing boasted more than 20,000 film and television businesses involved in production, screening, marketing and distribution, with more than 3,200 of them registered in Chaoyang, ranking it first among other districts.

There are more than 100,000 cultural enterprises registered in Chaoyang district, including 406 film and television enterprises above a certain scale, each with an annual revenue exceeding 5 million yuan, and nearly 3,000 institutions holding licenses for broadcasting and television program production.

Among the hundreds of cultural industry parks in Chaoyang district, film and television-themed parks account for more than half.

For businesses, the mature, reliable and dynamic industry ecosystem and quality government services are major factors that attract them to Beijing and Chaoyang district.

"Beijing has a significant advantage in developing the film industry. Whether it is in the early planning stage, filming, post-production or distribution and promotion, Beijing has a very complete and mature film industry chain," said Rao Shuguang, president of the China Film Critics Association.

Liu Peng, deputy director of the National Cultural Industry Innovation Experiment Zone, said that the relocation of China Central Television and Beijing Television provided opportunities for Chaoyang to gather high-end resources and support for it to become a hub for the film and television business.

"In Chaoyang district, it is very common to encounter film crews. Many well-known producers like Wu Jing, Wu Ershan and Guo Fan have film and television companies or studios in Chaoyang district," Liu said.

It is widely acknowledged that the film and television industry's development necessitates substantial and varied capital investments. Beijing stands out as a prime location to meet these demands.

"Chaoyang district is a hub for prominent film and television production companies, diverse investment institutions and a range of innovative and burgeoning industry participants, all contributing to the facilitation of numerous projects," Liu said.

Currently, film and television production businesses are actively embracing new technologies such as artificial intelligence-generated content and working toward establishing an ecosystem that integrates film production, digital platforms, and consumption all under one roof.

Zhao Chunyan, general manager of Langyuan at Beijing Capital Land, emphasized that as a leader in China, Beijing has to swiftly embrace the latest advancements in film and television technology and take the lead in setting industrial standards for film production.

Looking forward, Beijing will persist in exploring avenues to foster the high-quality development of its film and production industry, aiming to bolster the region's position as a global center for cultural consumption.

The city will introduce additional policies to facilitate the establishment of projects, secure financial backing, drive innovation and cultivate business platforms for companies in the industry. Measures will also be taken to attract and retain more talent in the city to support the long-term development of the industry.