Movie law brings down curtain on harmful film
Print Edition
CHINA passed a long-discussed film law yesterday banning content deemed harmful to the “dignity, honor and interests” of the People’s Republic and encouraging the promotion of “socialist core values.”
Booming box-office receipts have drawn Hollywood studios and a growing Chinese filmmaking industry into fierce competition for the nation’s movie market, which PricewaterhouseCoopers projects will rise from US$4.3 billion in 2014 to US$8.9 billion in 2019 — outstripping the United States.
The new set of laws govern the promotion of the film industry and were approved by the National People’s Congress Standing Committee at its meeting in Beijing yesterday.
The law, which comes into effect on March 1, states that its aim is to “spread core socialist values,” enrich the masses’ spiritual and cultural life, and set ground rules for the industry.
It forbids content that stirs up opposition to the law or constitution, harms national unity, sovereignty or territorial integrity, exposes national secrets, harms Chinese security, dignity, honor or interests, or spreads terrorism or extremism.
Also banned are subjects that “defame the people’s excellent cultural traditions,” incite ethnic hatred or discrimination or destroy ethnic unity.
It is illegal for Chinese firms to hire or partner with overseas productions deemed to have views “harmful to China’s dignity, honor and interests, harm social stability or hurt the feelings of the Chinese people.” Companies that work on such content face fines up to five times their illegal earnings over 500,000 yuan (US$73,820).
Films must not “violate the country’s religious policies, spread cults, or superstitions”, insult or slander people.
Only 34 foreign films are given cinema releases each year under a quota set by Beijing.
To get around this, US studios looking to capitalize on China’s market have sought partnerships with local companies.
Co-produced movies can bypass the quota as long as they contain significant Chinese elements, such as characters, plot devices or locations.
The new laws also propose fines for those who provide false box office sales data, a widespread problem as firms have been exposed pumping up ticket sales to generate marketing buzz.
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