Changchun Film Festival Aims to Boost China’s Film Market

CHANGCHUN, China, Aug. 29, 2024 — Wang Junkai, the lead singer of the hugely popular Chinese music band TFBOYS, was appointed as the image ambassador of the 19th China Changchun Film Festival on Monday. The topic quickly gained traction on Weibo, China’s most important social media platform, garnering significant attention.

A leading Chinese film festival commenced on Wednesday night in Changchun, the capital of northeast China’s Jilin Province and a cradle of the country’s film industry, with the aim of contributing to the prosperity of the Chinese film market.

Under the theme “New Era, New Cradle, and New Power” and with the goal of “Meeting in the City of Films to Discuss the Future of Cinema,” the festival encompasses six main sections, including opening and closing ceremonies, a film award ceremony, and more.

The China Changchun Film Festival has been held biannually since its inception in 1992 but was transitioned to an annual schedule starting in 2021.

Summer is one of the most lucrative box office seasons in China. As of Sunday, China’s 2024 summer box office revenue reached 11.1 billion yuan (about 1.56 billion U.S. dollars), with the domestic comedy “Successor” leading the revenue chart.

The blockbuster “Successor” has generated approximately 3.2 billion yuan in box office revenue since its release on July 16, accounting for nearly 29 percent of the total summer box office revenue. “Successor” has also been nominated for the prestigious “Golden Deer Award.”

This film was a collaborative effort between Changchun Film Studio, one of China’s most renowned film companies. Changchun elements, such as the iconic Hongqi limousines, were prominently featured in the film, leaving a lasting impression on numerous viewers in China.

In recent years, Changchun has been actively promoting the high-quality development of its film industry to support the creation of films like “Successor.” The Golden Hall of Changchun International Film Metropolis serves as the designated venue for the opening and closing ceremonies of this year’s festival.

During the 18th China Changchun Film Festival held last year, the Changchun municipal government unveiled a series of measures aimed at promoting the high-quality development of the film and television industry, offering financial support of up to 35 million yuan for a single film.

In addition to being known as the “City of Movies” and hosting the ongoing film festival, Changchun has garnered other noteworthy titles, including the “City of Automobiles.” The city is actively restructuring its industries by capitalizing on its strengths and addressing its weaknesses to provide robust support for the comprehensive revitalization of Northeast China, with the goal of achieving significant advancements.

Source: The 19th China Changchun Film Festival

CONTACT: Contact person: Mr. Han, Tel: 86-10-63074558