Will China cut the number of US movies it imports?

European arthouse movies could find new opportunities in Asia

China is still a very controlled market, even in entertainment. Last year, its box office raked in 54.9 billion yuan/$7.5 billion/€6.6 billion. But the chaos created by the US trade war is already having an effect on the movie industry as well – and European cinema could enjoy a windfall.

There Is Still Tomorrow/C’é ancora domani by Paola Cortellesi is a low-key Italian movie that was a surprise hit in its native Italy. A charming black and white tale of a woman seeking emancipation in fifties Italy, the movie earned over $50m worldwide and over €5.2m in China after five weeks. Some 1.09m spectators have already seen it. This makes China its second-largest market after Italy.

It was released in March by Unknown Pleasures Pictures, a new company founded by Jia Zhangke and Tian Qi. Zhangke remarked that the film resonates with the growing women's consciousness in China, offering a unique perspective on women's empowerment. The success of There Is Still Tomorrow in China signals a welcome rebirth for international arthouse films in a challenging market.

Plans from the China Film Administration

The background to this comes from the China Film Administration (CFA), which has announced plans to reduce the number of imported American films in response to increased US tariffs. The CFA aims to continue offering high-quality international films while reducing American imports. The previous agreements allowed 34 foreign films annually into the Chinese market, with a revenue-sharing system.

Other European films that have also found success in China, include Gints Zilbalodis's Flow (€3.2m in China, $36m worldwide) and Justine Triet’s Anatomy of a Fall (€3.5m in China, €36m worldwide). The animated film Robot Dreams by Paolo Berger earned €1.4m in China.

(Michael Leahy. Source: Cineuropa et al. Photo: Vision Film Distribution)