Chongqing - The 2026 Chongqing International Animation Film Week Industry Investment Promotion and Project Signing Session concluded Wednesday in Yongchuan District, with 53 projects inked under a combined investment of 2.8 billion yuan ($4.11 billion). The agreements span AIGC (AI-generated content) production, film-tech R&D, talent development, and content creation, marking a significant push to expand western China's digital content sector.
The 2026 Chongqing International Animation Film Week Industry Investment Promotion and Project Signing Session concluded Wednesday in Yongchuan District. (Photo/DENG Nan)
Among the newly announced projects, 11 film and TV titles - including a short-form AI drama adaptation of The Left Ear and a continuation of the beloved animated series The Adventures of Little Carp - are moving into production. According to organizers, the package of investments and initiatives positions Yongchuan to transition from a location-services provider into a hub for original content, tech-driven production, and cross-border film cooperation.
The signing ceremony drew nearly 300 delegates from film and TV industry associations, major domestic and international media enterprises, AI technology firms, film academies, and SCO member state film bodies.
With 53 projects inked under a combined investment of 2.8 billion yuan ($4.11 billion), the signing ceremony drew nearly 300 delegates. (Photo/The Organizer)
Directors Zhang Jizhong and Ping Jiang (Ping Jiang), and best-selling author-screenwriter Rao Xueman have either registered companies in Yongchuan or are involved in industry planning and content development.
Major players such as MaxTimes and TOPWORKS have also set up operations. On the AI front, Chongqing Digital Resources Group and other companies are weaving artificial intelligence into production workflows, reinforcing Yongchuan's "tech-plus-film" identity.
Rao Xueman, whose 2015 film adaptation of her novel The Left Ear became a domestic hit, told the conference she is now developing the story into a premium AI-generated short drama. "We wrapped a micro-drama at the Yongchuan technology studio just three months ago," she said. "Three months later, we're back-this time to turn The Left Ear into a high-end AI short series." The project has already been pre-booked, she added.
Rao Xueman, a best-selling author-screenwriter . (Photo/DENG Nan)
The conference also marked the official launch of Our Day, a feature-length anthology produced by the SCO Producers' Alliance. Building on outcomes from the 2025 SCO Film Festival, the film will feature 15- to 20-minute segments from participating countries, each showcasing cultural heritage and the daily lives, work, and emotions of their people.
The conference also marked the official launch of Our Day, a feature-length anthology produced by the SCO Producers' Alliance. (Photo/The Organizer)
Jiao Hongfen, Chairman of the China Film Producers' Association, confirmed that after script development and national approvals, filming is expected to be completed by the first half of 2027. "Yongchuan's film ecosystem is growing fast," Jiao said. "I hope my next visit will be for the premiere."
To support the influx of new production activity, the Yongchuan District government released a set of trial measures designed to integrate tech-driven film and TV production with cultural, commercial, sports, and tourism development.
Financial incentives: Municipal and district authorities are offering combined rewards of up to 35% for qualifying film and TV projects. A dedicated 200-million-yuan ($29.4 million) cultural industry fund has already supported more than 50 project greenlights, and a 2-billion-yuan ($293.7 million) Western Cultural Technology Innovation Fund is under preparation.
Production support: Yongchuan has set aside over 800 serviced apartments-dubbed "Filmmakers' Home"-available to crews at 40 yuan (about $5.90) per person per night. The district has also built a database of more than 15,000 registered extras to ease casting across regions. The newly established Chongqing Sci-Tech Film & TV Service Center is tasked with coordinating industry research, policy implementation, investment, and enterprise services.
"To make sure these 53 projects get off the ground quickly, we've adopted a three-point approach," said Zhang Yucheng, Director of the Center. "One dedicated team per project to handle everything from registration to permits and housing. Second, a full suite of infrastructure-including virtual studios-available for immediate use. And third, an accelerated approval channel for the 11 film projects to secure fast start and release dates."
Leveraging the Western Vocational Education Base, Yongchuan has built a training model that bridges academia and industry. The district now operates 36 specialized training facilities for virtual simulation and 3D animation, four digital creative industry colleges, and joint programs with 12 local schools.
More than 8,000 professionals in virtual production and AI visual effects have been trained through partnerships with over 40 industry leaders, including custom classes and internship programs.
"We moved our AI production unit to Yongchuan specifically for the talent cluster, the complete industry chain, and the very strong policy support," said Zhang Yange, Chairman of SS-VFX, which provides VFX services for the hit CCTV drama The Leading Role and was among Wednesday's signatories.
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