A new special committee was launched on Oct. 24 in Beijing to actively implement the central government's instructions for the development of the film industry. This new committee intents to better empower filmmaking through industrialization and informatization, as well as harness technologies to create new quality productive forces for Chinese cinema.

Representatives from several companies that found the Industry and Technology Film and Television Special Committee of the China Xia Yan Film Institute (CXYFI) pose for a photo with their respective certificates at a launch ceremony held in Beijing, Oct. 24, 2024. [Photo courtesy of CXYFI]

Jointly established by the Industrial Culture Development Center under the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) and the China Xia Yan Film Institute (CXYFI), the Industry and Technology Film and Television Special Committee's establishment was announced during the third meeting of the CXYFI's fifth council, which coincided with the opening ceremony for the 14th Beijing International Internet Film Festival. 

Sun Xing, deputy director of the Industrial Culture Development Center, will serve as the general advisor to this new special committee. The renowned filmmaker Zhang Jianya will take up the role of committee director while Zhang Lu, the secretary-general of the MIIT's Industry and Science Fiction Film and TV Experts Committee, will be the committee's secretary-general.

A list of inaugural members was also revealed. These initial members cover various aspects of the industry, such as firms that focus on film production, distribution and promotion, and include 32 leading enterprises such as Shanghai-based Three-Body Universe Cultural Development Co., Ltd., iQiyi and Beijing Airmita Culture Development Co., Ltd.

Sun emphasized in his speech during the announcement that the third plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) explicitly proposed that the nation needs to "achieve greater self-reliance and strength in science and technology," highlighting the film industry's stride toward self-reliance and high-quality development. He also noted that the rapid development of new technologies such as artificial intelligence and virtual filming is profoundly impacting the transformation of the film industry. 

According to information that was provided during the announcement, the Industry and Technology Film and Television Special Committee will prioritize promoting research, development, application and industrialization of film technologies and equipment, including advanced technologies like virtual production and artificial intelligence. It will focus on creating and producing industry-themed and sci-fi works, taking film industrialization as its primary responsibility. The committee also aims to foster integration and innovation of industry and culture as well as technology and art, contributing to the development of socialist cultural undertakings with Chinese characteristics. Additionally, it plans to organize industry exchange activities, regularly host forums and seminars to share technological advancements and trends, showcase the achievements of China's film industry and boost Chinese cinema's international influence.

The China Xia Yan Film Institute is named after Xia Yan, a prominent Chinese screenwriter, pioneer, activist and leader of the Chinese Left-wing Cinema Movement in the 1930s.

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