Sino-Foreign Co-Production in the Post-Pandemic Era: Effects of Policies on Facilitating Film Co-Production

Abstract

At this symposium, I will present my research findings which explore the implications of film co-production policies for practitioners engaged in Sino-foreign co-production projects. The research is guided by the theoretical framework of Richard Peterson's production of culture perspective (2004) and John Thornton Caldwell's production culture (2008). Specifically, my presentation will concentrate on film policies and relevant industry documents that have direct relevance to film practitioners in the Australasian region. The dynamics of government relationships are likely to exert an influence on policy-making processes. New Zealand was the first Oceanic country to sign the Memorandum of Agreement with China on the Maritime Silk Road in early 2017. Since then, it has brought opportunities and challenges for New Zealand film industry practitioners. Six official co-production projects with China have been approved since 2019 (New Zealand Film Commission, 2023). For New Zealand film industry practitioners keen to collaborate with their Chinese counterparts in the post-pandemic era, the Belt and Road Initiative presents an opportunity to seize the advantages of the current times. Therefore, filmmakers in both countries should understand the impact of these policies on the Chinese film industry and Sino-foreign co-productions. This qualitative research collected primary data from semi-structured interviews with film practitioners from New Zealand, Australia, and China, and secondary data from documents, government policies, and reports, as well as publically available online industry interviews. A thematic analysis is conducted to examine the data and answering and exploring one of PhD research questions: what would industry policies and documents mean for film practitioners working in co-productions.  My research finding shows, through acquiring comprehensive knowledge, film industry practitioners can make informed choices and select collaboration methods that align with the needs of their projects, thus avoiding unnecessary complications or challenges.