China Film Group is the agency which has exclusive rights for importing foreign movies into China. It has produced movies like Red Cliff, The Funding of the Republic, and the coproduction with Sony’s Colombia Tri-Star in a remake of The Karate Kid with Jacky Chan and Jaden Smith. Every year the group produces some 30 feature films, at least 400 television plays and 100 telefilms.
Though CFG and many of the other big film producing companies like Shanghai Film Group, Huaxia Film Distribution Co., DMG Entertainment, Huayi Brothers, Enlight Media and Bona Film Group, have capital involvement. The smaller companies are outstanding in creativity and avantgarde approaches. For instance, Zhang Yimou has his own production company, just like Wang Xiaoshuai, Jia Zhangke, and Feng Xiaogang. All four directors created international productions presented on all the major film festivals in the world.
Although the center of the film industry is still located in Beijing and Shanghai, Xiamen is the upcoming hub and gateway of the Chinese film industry in the future. Companies such as Alibaba Pictures, Tencent Pictures, Penguin Pictures, all have benefited from a strong financial foundation and are firmly rooted in the internet industry. They are also smart in publicity. At the production level, these internet giants have not yet produced enough major films, but the future development looks bright.
Combinations of complete control of the production and distribution chain are specific for the Chinese film industry. Bona Film Group, for instance, produces, contracts actors, specializes in technology, and maintains both distributions and build their own cinemas. With external investment they will provide the entire management of production and are listed on the Nasdaq Stock Exchange as well.