Bridging screens, sharing stories: Festival highlights cooperation between China and US film industries

The 21st Chinese American Film Festival and the Chinese American TV Festival, held annually in Los Angeles, once again brought together film professionals from China and the United States, celebrating the growing spirit of cooperation and exchange between two of the world's largest film industries.

Alongside a wide range of Chinese productions, several major Hollywood studios were also recognized for their success in the Chinese market, highlighting how storytelling continues to connect people across cultures.

Hollywood blockbusters, including Venom: The Last Dance, Jurassic World Rebirth, Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning, F1: The Movie, and How to Train Your Dragon, were honored with the "Most Popular US Film in China" awards.

"On behalf of all of our filmmakers and our incredible team in China, I want to thank the Chinese American Film Festival for these awards," said Katie Powell, senior vice-president of international distribution at Universal Pictures.

Lindsey Seipel, director of international theatrical distribution at Paramount Pictures, added, "We're so pleased that Chinese audiences have embraced the Mission franchise over the years, and we're excited to continue bringing great theatrical experiences to China."

Representatives from Sony Pictures and Warner Bros Discovery echoed the sentiment, reaffirming their commitment to collaboration with Chinese partners and audiences. "We deeply believe in the power of the theatrical experience," said Lindsey Gui, vice-president at Warner Bros Discovery. "We look forward to bringing more high-quality titles to audiences around the world, especially China."

Launched in 2005, the festival has become a major platform for creative exchange, helping Chinese and US filmmakers build long-term connections through coproductions, distribution partnerships and artistic dialogue.

Jason Brenek, CEO of MetaMedia, who has spent more than three decades in the US film industry, described cinema as "a bridge that still stands between the two countries".

"It's a bridge of cultural and creative sharing that continues to bring China and the United States closer together," Brenek told China Daily. "From my perspective, there is enormous potential for deeper industry and market collaboration. More than 500 films are produced in China each year, yet only about 50 to 60 are released in the US. That number should be much higher."

Brenek said that with an estimated 5 million Chinese Americans living in the US, the potential audience for Chinese-language cinema is substantial.

"There's a growing appetite for authentic Chinese stories, whether historical epics, animation or contemporary dramas. Platforms are expanding, and audiences are more open than ever," he said.

Brenek highlighted the success of recent titles like Ne Zha 2 as examples of Chinese storytelling that combine visual sophistication with universal themes. "Despite challenges and occasional tension, I'm optimistic that creative collaboration cannot only continue but return to the level of openness we saw a decade ago," he said.

Cultural blending

Hollywood producer Bill Borden, whose credits include the China-inspired films Kung Fu Hustle and Dragon Nest, has been at the forefront of China-US coproductions for nearly two decades. For him, cultural blending is essential.

"I've made several movies in China, working with Jackie Chan and Stephen Chow," Borden told China Daily. "It's really important that cultures mix and that no one isolates themselves. The creative process becomes richer when we bring together different traditions, languages and perspectives."

For Chinese actor Zhang Luyi, that sense of cultural understanding begins with empathy. "Culture is not for distinguishing, but for connecting," he told China Daily. "When we learn to listen to others' stories, the world becomes closer and more compassionate."

Zhang, who received the Best Actor Award at the festival for his role in the series The Secret Path, believes that East and West can find common ground through their different approaches to performance. "Chinese expression tends to be restrained and internal, while American expression is open and individualistic," he said. "When these two collide, they create powerful sparks."

Director Yang Zi, whose crime thriller The Shadow's Edge won Best Golden Angel Film of the Year, shared a similar view. Having studied in the US and the United Kingdom, Yang has long sought to integrate Western film structure with Chinese sensibility.

"I didn't make the film as a deliberate vehicle for cultural communication," he told China Daily. "But by portraying complex, flesh-and-blood characters, you achieve a kind of invisible cultural transmission."

China's film and television industry is entering a period of high-quality development, supported by a massive domestic market and increasing international visibility. According to the National Radio and Television Administration, the country's radio, television and online audiovisual industries are projected to reach 1.49 trillion yuan ($207 billion) in operating income by the end of 2025, a 5.3 percent year-on-year increase.

High-quality productions such as To the Wonder and Flourished Peony have not only gained popularity at home but also reached audiences worldwide through multilingual dubbing and subtitling.

"China's mass market with 1 billion traditional media users and 1 billion new media audiences, as well as its growing creative and production capacity, provide unlimited possibilities for China-US audiovisual cooperation," said Chang Jin, counsel for international cooperation at the National Radio and Television Administration.

renali@chinadailyusa.com