Shanghai, a landmark of cinema art

Since the first movie was brought to Shanghai over a century ago, the city has been put on the map of the world’s cinematic history, having featured frequently in international blockbusters.

In movies, every city has its own “face”. In the case of Shanghai, it is represented by modern Lujiazui, the Bund, Shikumen buildings, graceful arching bridges and small waterways… Can’t help looking for the locations of your favourite movies? Shanghai offers a Movie tour to help you look for those landmarks. Ask for information at your nearest Office of Tourism when you get to Shanghai.

But not only Shanghai. Many other Chinese locations like Beijing, Jinzhong, Tianjin, Zhangjiajie, Hezhou and, of course, the Great Wall, among others, have been selected to be the unforgettable landscape of iconic movies like Avatar, 007: SkyFall, The Painted Veil, Kill Bill, Empire of the Sun, Armageddon, Rise of the Red Lantern, The Last Emperor, Mission Impossible 3 or the forever favourite Indiana Jones and The Temple of Doom.

If you happen to be in Shanghai or planning a trip soon, you can visit the Shanghai Film Museum. Here you will get a good picture of Shanghai’s cinematic industry, being an important window to the movie industry of Shanghai and China as a whole. The facilities contain four theme zones, a No. 5 Studio and one theatre.

Shanghai International Film Festival

The Shanghai International Film Festival, known as SIFF, is one of the largest and most important film events in East Asia. Its most prestigious award is known as the Jin Jue (“Golden Goblet”) for the best film.

This year’s SIFF began with a star-studded opening ceremony, during which 400 celebrities graced the red carpet. Among them were Oscar-winning actress Nicole Kidman (who received an outstanding contribution award), British actor Hugh Grant, French director Jean-Jacques Annaud, South Korean actress Song Hye-kyo and Hong Kong actor Nicolas Tse, Jackie Chan, Shanghai festival jury president Gong Li, Lin Chiling, John Woo, Liu Yifei, Gao Yuanyuan and Wang Jingchun. Director Jiang Wen also received a prize for his contribution to Chinese cinema. His upcoming Gone With The Bullets is also expected to be a year-end hit.

The 17th SIFF was also a platform for advancing the film industry. During the SIFForum, Youku, Tudou and the 
Shanghai government established a micro movie production center. The new center will foster young Chinese talent in this field.

Leading Digital Post Shanghai Media Events Co., Ltd launched a film post-production base in Shanghai, with a capacity to post 50 movies and 500 advertisements every year.

China Film Group, Shanghai Film Group and August First Film Studio announced that they would work together to produce one to three films every year.

Shanghai University and the Vancouver Film School also announced that they would establish a film institute, forming Shanghai’s first film post-production cluster district. Around 100 film production, sound design for visual media, 3D animation and visual effects students will be admitted in its inaugural year.

Relativity Media announced at that it has partnered with Jiangsu Broadcasting Corp to co-produce film and television content for both international and domestic markets. Enlight Media Group announced plans to shoot 10 films and three TV movies.

Pegasus Media signed a co-production framework for 7 projects with CINEFRANCE, E&M Film, StudioCanal, SM Entertainments, 20th Century Fox and The Weinstein Company.

Tags: 007: SkyFall, Armageddon, Avatar, Empire of the Sun, Golden Goblet, Gone With The Bullets, Hugh Grant, Indiana Jones and The Temple of Doom., Jackie Chan, Jean-Jacques Annaud, Jiang Wen, Jin Jue, Kill Bill, Mission Impossible 3, Nicolas Tse, Nicole Kidman, Paloma Fraile, Rise of the Red Lantern, Shanghai International Film Festival, Song Hye-kyo, The Last Emperor, The Painted Veil