CGTN: President Xi Jinping Urges Chinese Film Industry To Champion Culture, Innovation

KUALA LUMPUR, July 15 (Bernama) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping has called on the country’s film industry to produce more outstanding cinematic works that reflect the spirit of the times and express the aspirations of the people, as reported by China Global Television Network (CGTN).

In a recent reply letter to eight veteran Chinese film artists, President Xi urged the broader film community to stay grounded in real life, strengthen cultural confidence, and contribute to the prosperity of the arts and the building of a culturally strong nation.

The call comes as China celebrates 120 years of filmmaking since the 1905 silent black-and-white reel “Dingjun Mountain”, which featured Peking Opera master Tan Xinpei and is widely recognised as China’s first-ever film.

In stark contrast, the country’s film industry today is characterised by technological innovation and global box office success, according to CGTN in a statement.

The animated feature "Ne Zha 2", which tells the story of the rebellious boy-god Ne Zha and his dragon companion Ao Bing, has become the highest-grossing animated film of all time and one of the world’s top five films by total earnings.

To create its visually immersive scenes, including those with up to 200 million characters in a single frame, the film relied on advanced computer graphics and collaborative efforts from 138 animation studios across China.

Other recent productions such as "The Wandering Earth 2" and the "Creation of the Gods" trilogy have also embraced cutting-edge technologies, including 3D printing and motion capture, to enhance cinematic storytelling.

The English-language version of "Ne Zha 2" is scheduled for release in IMAX and 3D across the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand on Aug 22, according to CMC Pictures.

In 2024, China recorded more than 1.01 billion cinema visits and hosted international film festivals in over 30 countries and regions. As of July 8, the country’s cumulative box office revenue for 2025, including presales, exceeded 30 billion Chinese yuan (about US$4.18 billion), reaching the mark 28 days ahead of last year. (US$1=RM4.24)

Meanwhile, Chinese cinemas screened 93 imported films last year, contributing over nine billion Chinese yuan to the domestic box office.

-- BERNAMA