China’s sci-fi film sector — and vfx industry — have received the official seal of approval. The case for more science fiction in the country is made in “Several Opinions on Promoting the Development of Science Fiction Films,” a document published by China’s National Film Administration and the China Association for Science and Technology.
What does the document say? Essentially, that sci-fi movies are an effective way to promote Communist Party ideology, and their production should be encouraged in China. Movies ought to “highlight Chinese values, inherit Chinese culture and aesthetics, cultivate contemporary Chinese innovation” as well as “disseminate scientific thought” and “raise the spirit of scientists,” according to translations supplied by Variety.
What are its suggestions for boosting the sector? There are a few. The document calls for festivals, awards, and talent incubators to foster strong original IP, and encourages the adaptation of sci-fi works from other media, including animation. It calls on private financiers to invest more readily in sci-fi films, whose production can be slow and expensive. And it states that the country’s vfx and digital services must be developed.
