China and Japan Hatching Co-Production Treaty

Asian neighbors and frequent rivals, Japan and China are expected to sign a film coproduction treaty next month.The news was reported Wednesday by Japan’s Asahi newspaper, citing Foreign Ministry sources.The treaty would be the first of its kind for Japan, whose film production and distribution industries have seen growth stall after pushing back Hollywood in the last decade.

China has nearly 20 bilateral film and TV agreements.

Its domestic industry is booming, but its film exports have not kept pace.Final details of the accord have yet to be revealed, though the Asahi report points to films produced under the treaty as acquiring dual nationality.

That would allow Chinese-Japanese co-produced films to escape China’s import quotas.

Japan has no restrictions on foreign films, though very few Chinese titles have succeeded at the Japanese box office in recent years.Japan’s “Your Name” earned $83 million at the Chinese box office last year.

Read full article