China film officials approved a record number of co-production permits in 2016.
China’s State Administration of Press and Publications, Radio, Film, and Television (SAPPRFT) issued an all-time high number of co-production permits in 2016, the state-run Xinhua News Agency reported Tuesday.
The majority of the 89 permits were for productions from Hong Kong, with 54, and 10 from the United States. The permits were not necessarily issued for films to be shot in 2016, and many of them will be filmed this year.
The number is an increase of 11 percent over the 2015 figure, the news agency reported.
One of those films, which completed shooting early in 2016 and was released in December, is The Great Wall, starring Matt Damon and directed by Zhang Yimou. That film made RMB 1.1 billion (US$160 million) during its box office run in China, the report said.
The Great Wall‘s US run begins February 17.
China has existing co-production treaties with 10 countries including France, India, and Italy, but does not at present have one with the United States.
