This comparison could seem a little far fetched, but judging by the numbers and large attendance at this year’s 9^th edition of the Shanghai International Film Festival could very well confirm this hypothesis. Stars like Nicole Kidman, Sigourney Weaver, Andie McDowell, Liam Neeson, Anthony Minghella, Jacky Chan, Ang Lee and Hugh Jackman, just to name a few of the stars who walked down the red carpet in the People’s Republic of China.
Gabriele Salvatores, member of the Jury (Luc Besson presiding), the special “Focus on Italy” section with 12 films in all, Chinese director Wang Xiaoshuai with his documentary “Tuscany Dream” realized to give the Chinese a closer look at our culture, the great reception our films received in theatres, are all contributing factors of Filmitalia’s successful initiative in the Orient, whose aim was to focus the attention of audiences, TV industry professionals and buyers from home and abroad onto our nation’s cinematography. > China with a 10% annual growth of its gross national product is certainly one of the world’s most interesting markets, and Europe is one of the most valuable commercial partners with whom the “Red Dragon” wants to establish contacts. This year’s market clearly demonstrated this notion, judging by how much interest was expressed in “Exploring New Land” , the market section dedicated to Chinese-European exchanges. (In all the market hosts around 1000 films).
The General Manager of China Film Co-Production Corporation, La Peikang states : " This year 3 out of the 4 top box office films are European co-productions, representing 30 - 40% of the ticket sale earnings."
The important co-production agreement signed between China and Italy makes us the pioneers of this new tendency. Presently similar agreements are in the process of being drawn up with France, Great Britain, Australia and India.