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China's Film Censorship Law Today

The Film Industry Promotion Law of the People's Republic of China, according to Chinese government, was a great leap in Chinese film industry. This new regulation is said to make film distribution and screening more standardized, provide more convenience for film production, simplify the approval process, and lower the threshold for film producers. The enactment of this new law is expected to encourage more companies and individuals to invest in the film industry. (1)

The new regulation on film, Film Industry Promotion Law of the People's Republic of China, was enacted on March 01, 2017. The main purpose of this new regulation was stated to promote a healthy and prosperous development of the film industry in China, to promote the core values of 	socialism, to standardize a good order of the film industry, and to enrich the spiritual and cultural life of the people. Every film making, shooting, release, broadcast, and screening is applicable to this regulation. China encourages filmmakers in production to have innovative genre, theme, filming technique as long as they are following the rules listed in Film IndustryPromotion Law of the People's Republic of China. Publicity Department will be granted right to investigate any specific themes related to national security, diplomacy, religion, ethnicity, or military. Collaborated production is allowed, however, funding and profits distribution should be following designated proportion. Any cross-regional collaborated production would be consider as China’s film production and would be required to follow all the rules on the regulation. Overseas filmmakers are not permitted to start any film related activity within the border, unless there is collaboration with Chinesefilmmakers. According to the Film Industry Promotion Law of the People's Republic of China, films are strictly prohibited from including concept of endangering national unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity, divulging state secrets, endangering national security, undermining national dignity, honor and interests, and promoting terrorism and extremism. Concepts endangering social morality are also prohibited — obscenity, gambling, drug abuse, rendering violence, terror, abetting crimes, teaching criminal methods, damaging the physical and mental health of minors, insulting, slandering others, or spreading the privacy of others, etc. (2)

Regardless of the limitation on content that has been increasing since the very first film content regulation in 1911, the Film Industry Promotion Law of the People's Republic of China is for sure helping the Chinese film industry. For example, Logan that was released on March 03, 2017, rated R in the United States, due to screenings may cause physical or mental discomfort to minors and other viewers, was rated PG 13 in China The statement of “parents strongly cautioned, some material may be inappropriate for children under 13” was prompted at every theater front desks to protect minors. As for screening hours in China, all cinema shall arrange the screening times and time slots for film by domestic filmmakers and other overseas films. The duration of the screening for domestic films shall not be less than two-thirds of the total length of the annual screening movies in China. Also noted above, every film shoot in China is required to have Chinese filmmakers to provide more opportunity and encourage more talented Chinese filmmakers. (3)