Development of Arthouse Cinemas in China: At a Crossroads

Abstract

The distribution and exhibition of arthouse films in China’s burgeoning film industry came into the spotlight in 2016 with the launch of the Nationwide Alliance of Arthouse Cinemas. At the same time, issues surrounding the distribution and marketing of arthouse films have emerged in professional and academic discourse. This paper aims to better understand the unique factors that influence the Chinese arthouse film market, including the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. For this purpose, a qualitative research method combining a survey of the terrain, a review of the literature and semi-structured interviews was employed. The article argues that although China’s film industry has become first in the world in terms of the number of screens and box office takings, the arthouse cinema market is still at the exploration stage due to restrictions on film import. Arthouse cinemas are also currently facing new challenges brought on by a rise in online film consumption.