A new script for Chinese cinema

In 1993, Wang Jun, then a college student, volunteered at the first Shanghai International Film Festival. Since then, her career has been intertwined with the Chinese film industry, witnessing its remarkable expansion over the past three decades.

Now chairwoman of the Shanghai Film Group, Wang recently joined four other industry figures — including Shen Ao, director of this summer's highest-grossing blockbuster Dead to Rights — to share their perspectives on the opportunities and challenges facing Chinese cinema at a news conference hosted by the State Council Information Office on Aug 7.

As 2025 marks the 120th anniversary of the birth of Chinese cinema, Wang says that the century-old art form has retained its allure despite sweeping changes in technology and the entertainment market.

She said the 76-year-old Shanghai Film Group is embracing emerging technologies, from establishing an artificial intelligence creation center to using virtual reality to enhance the moviegoing experience. She also reveals that Nobody, a popular animated film inspired by the 16th-century novel Journey to the West, is planning a VR adaptation.

The rise of micro-short dramas is also reshaping the landscape. According to the China Netcasting Services Association, the market for these bite-sized productions reached 50.44 billion yuan ($7.02 billion) in 2024 — up 34.9 percent year-on-year, surpassing the country's annual box-office revenue for the first time.