A new script for Chinese cinema

Industry experts believe magic of moviegoing is here to stay despite rise of streaming, micro dramas, and evolving audience habits, Xu Fan reports.

In 1993, Wang Jun, then a college student, volunteered at the first Shanghai International Film Festival. Since then, her career has been intertwined with the Chinese film industry, witnessing its remarkable expansion over the past three decades.

Now chairwoman of the Shanghai Film Group, Wang recently joined four other industry figures — including Shen Ao, director of this summer's highest-grossing blockbuster Dead to Rights — to share their perspectives on the opportunities and challenges facing Chinese cinema at a news conference hosted by the State Council Information Office on Aug 7.

As 2025 marks the 120th anniversary of the birth of Chinese cinema, Wang says that the century-old art form has retained its allure despite sweeping changes in technology and the entertainment market.