DAILY BRIEF: May 20, 2019

1
Cannes: Trade War Rattles U.S., China Film Sales Relationships
President Donald Trump’s escalation of tensions with Beijing has limited acquisitions of small and mid-range indie projects in the Middle Kingdom: "I don’t feel confident about buying American movies right now." The Hollywood Reporter
2
China Box Office: Weekend Chart Dominated By Non-Chinese Films
Unusually, all of the top five films at the China box office this weekend were non-Chinese. That’s a relatively rare occurrence, as audiences typically favor local films over foreign content. But it is one that may happen more often, as high-performing local titles become fewer and farther between due to production slowdowns. Variety
3
China’s Trade Warriors Can’t Hit Hollywood
Trying to boycott U.S. entertainment and travel, as Beijing did with South Korea, will only backfire on Chinese companies and consumers. Bloomberg
4
Action Thriller ‘Strike Back’ on Course at China Film, Arclight
China Film Group and Taihang Pictures have teamed up to produce “Strike Back,” a patriotic action-thriller film. Arclight Films is attached as co-financier and worldwide sales agent. Variety
5
Cannes 2019: The Wild Goose Lake Film Review
The only Chinese-language title in competition at the 2019 Cannes festival, its subject matter-urban crime in China-is a surprise in the current climate. South China Morning Post