The Film Industry Promotion Law aims to promote the healthy and prosperous development of the Chinese film industry. (Photo : Getty Images)
China's film industry has a new regulation to follow as the Law on Promotion of Film Industry has been agreed upon at the 24th Session of the Standing Committee of 12th National People's Congress (NPC) on Nov. 7 in Beijing. Its issuance has been approved under the Order of the President No. 54 and shall take effect on March 1, 2017.
According to the General Provisions of this new law, it was enacted with the aim "to promote the healthy and prosperous development of the film industry, promote the socialist core values, standardize the order of the film market and enrich the spiritual and cultural life of the masses."
The scope of the law covers the activities of film creation, filming, distribution and projection within the territory of the People's Republic of China (PRC).
Co-productions with Foreign Companies
Independent film production and distribution in China by foreign companies are still prohibited. Co-production is allowed upon receiving approval from the Film Bureau. Co-produced films containing themes that could harm PRC's national dignity, honor and interests, social stability or ethnic unity will not be approved.
Any lifting of the quota on foreign film imports was not mentioned.
On Promoting Socialist Core Values
Article 9 states that actors, directors and other film practitioners should adhere to the arts, comply with laws and regulations, have respect for social ethics, abide by professional ethics, strengthen self-discipline, and establish a good social image.
Anyone who has engaged in any act that dishonors the State should not take part in any film activity.
Delegating the Power of Censorship
The State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television (SAPPRFT), China's top media regulator which is also responsible for censoring any materials that offend the State and its cultural standards, is delegating the authority of censorship down to the provincial and municipal administrations.
According to Yan Xiaohong of SAPPRFT, this streamlining will speed up the reforming of China's film industry.
Number of Screenings and Time Slots
In Article 29, it is stated that the cinema shall arrange for the number of screenings and time slots of films produced by domestic legal persons and other organizations. The duration of the screening of domestic films shall not be less than two thirds of the sum of the length of all the films shown.
China film lawyers Mathew Alderson & Grace Yang mentioned in an article which appeared in China Film Insider that all in all the new law is "apparently intended to simplify the regulation of screenplays, film productions and exhibitions and the holding of foreign-related film festivals."
