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A scene in Zhang Yimou's film "The Flowers of War" [Photo: douban.com]
China is now one of the world's largest film markets as well as producers. But when it comes to Chinese films' international influence, one may draw a general conclusion that it pails in comparison with that of Bollywood, let alone Hollywood.
China's latest big-budget blockbuster, "The Flowers of War", portrayed in the settings of the 1937 Nanjing Massacre and directed by Zhang Yimou, failed to secure nomination of the Academy Awards even though the film receives high ratings among Chinese moviegoers.
An Oscar trophy may not necessarily be a litmus test for Chinese film industry, but gaining a foothold in the international film industry will certainly be an injection in the Chinese cultural arm as it seeks to boost cultural competitiveness.
So what does it take for Chinese films to win internationally? And what overseas experiences can China borrow to help the industry grow?
For our program People in the Know, we talk to Sun Shaoyi from School of Film and TV Arts & Technology at Shanghai University, and also Richard Trombly, independent filmmaker and former business journalist.
By Xie Tingting
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