Chongqing - In 2025, nearly 20 film delegations, movie companies, and stars worldwide will gather in Chongqing for the inaugural Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Film Festival. This prestigious event will kick off a new chapter in Chongqing's growing film industry.
At a movie industry conference held on January 15, Chongqing unveiled its key film projects for the year. These initiatives will make 2025 a groundbreaking year for the city's film sector, highlighting upcoming film festivals, the creation of state-of-the-art film studios, and a robust lineup of locally produced films.
Chongqing has been selected as the host city for the 2025 SCO Film Festival, which will be seamlessly integrated with the second China Chongqing Science and Technology Film Week. During the festival, more than 60 domestic and international films will be showcased, and a series of award ceremonies, film forums, technology exhibitions, music concerts, and film markets—nearly 50 activities in total—will offer a comprehensive celebration of global cinema.
The First China Chongqing Science and Technology Film Week was grandly inaugurated on the evening of June 26 at the Yongchuan International Convention and Exhibition Center. (Photo/China Chongqing Science and Technology Film Week)
The festival aims to highlight China's technological advances and establish a distinctive film brand that reflects Chongqing's unique identity while gaining global influence.
As part of its strategy to elevate its film industry, Chongqing plans to integrate cutting-edge technologies like virtual reality (VR), artificial intelligence (AI), and extended reality (XR) into filmmaking. The city will foster collaborations between research institutes and film companies, extending the film industry's intellectual property chain. This year, efforts will be made to expand VR and AI-driven films, with plans to enhance the city's film production infrastructure.
Virtual filming site at Yongchuan Sci-tech Film Set. (Photo/Yongchuan District)
Motion capture demonstration Yongchuan Sci-tech Film Set. (Photo/Yongchuan District)
Chongqing's efforts include accelerating the second phase of the Yongchuan Sci-Tech Film Studio project and adding three more filming stages to the facility. By the end of the year, the city will have 12 studios, equipped to host large—and medium-scale film productions. The studios will integrate advanced motion capture and digital human technologies, positioning Chongqing as a hub for future-forward film production.
Chongqing has already become a prominent player in the national film industry, with a growing number of locally produced films. For 2025, the city plans to continue producing high-quality, homegrown films that reflect the "Chongqing flavor." Emphasizing the city's unique cultural and historical assets, local filmmakers will explore themes of economic development, urban governance, and rural revitalization.
Chongqing is set to produce and promote several key films, including Xiao Qiankun, Thunderfield Heroes, and Girl's Soccer, along with others like Green Planet and Tank Heroes, aiming to create signature "Chongqing films."
In celebration of the 80th anniversary of China's victory in the War of Resistance, Chongqing will release the animated film Phoenix in Fire and promote several others, such as New Three Gorges and I Am Dragon, for nationwide screenings.
Snapshot from the film "Phoenix in Fire". (Photo/Deng Yan)
With its natural and industrial advantages, Chongqing aims to attract over 100 film productions in 2025. The city will streamline filmmaking by enhancing its one-stop production service platform, optimizing approval procedures, and providing rich resources for film crews.
Further efforts will be made to enhance the digital infrastructure supporting the film industry, including creating a VR scene database. Chongqing will also incentivize the growth of the film market by organizing campaigns like the "Movie Consumption Season," injecting 10 million RMB(about $1.36 million) in funding to stimulate the sector.
Additionally, Chongqing will explore new avenues for integrating film with tourism and other industries, including "Film Tourism" and "Film Dining" events. The city aims to revitalize the local economy and achieve an ambitious target of 1 billion RMB in box office revenue.
To engage younger audiences, Chongqing will launch programs to increase cinema attendance, such as essay and speech contests related to the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. With plans to screen over 140,000 films across various genres, Chongqing is positioning itself as a dynamic center for film production and consumption.
With these bold initiatives, Chongqing is set to make 2025 a transformative year for its film industry, establishing itself as a global film city that blends tradition with innovation.
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