18/05/2016 - CANNES 2016: The partnership, signed at Cannes, will allow the exchange of content between the leading European and Chinese online portals

(l-r) Movie View International publisher Meng Xiaoqiang, Bridging the Dragon vice-chairman Cristiano Bortone, Cineuropa director Valerio Caruso and chief editor of Movie View Huang Haikun

The first European cinema site to publish content in four languages, Cineuropa.org, the most widely read and influential film magazine in China, Movie View, and Bridging the Dragon, which aims to bridge the European and Chinese film industries through a network of high-level film professionals, have announced a media partnership to exchange content on Cineuropa and Movie View so as to better inform audiovisual professionals about potential opportunities on the two continents of Europe and Asia.

(The article continues below - Commercial information)

The enormous growth in the Chinese film market has led foreign companies to take a heightened interest in investing in and distributing audiovisual content in China. The total box office for the country rose from $246.2 million in 2005 to $6.77 billion in 2015. On the other hand, co-productions between China and other countries rose from 40 to 94 between 2010 and 2015. There is a clear need to gain a better knowledge of the markets, and encourage strategic exchanges and partnerships.

Cineuropa’s director, Valerio Caruso, described the partnership as “an important step to promote European movies and audiovisual content in China. Partnering with Movie View and Bridging the Dragon gives us their deep expertise within the Chinese market, and the ability to reach over one million readers across China. This is a top-level partnership to establish long-term relationships between Chinese and European audiovisual professionals.”

“We are really excited about this new opportunity,” said Huang Haikun, chief editor of Movie View. “Cineuropa.org will provide fresh and original content for our readers. Over the last ten years, there has been some massive development in terms of co-productions. The co-production of films not only opens up the opportunity for foreign movies to enter the Chinese market, but also offers the chance for Chinese films to be shown abroad. Information and exchanges are the basis for increasing co-productions and encouraging more Chinese films to travel in Europe,” he concluded.

“As the Chinese film market has increased in size, there has been more and more demand for content,” commented Cristiano Bortone, Bridging the Dragon’s vice-chairman. “Europe and all its diversity can offer the Chinese film market an incredible wealth of stories, talents, locations and funding. There are plenty of opportunities for collaboration on both sides, but mutual knowledge is the first, essential step,” he concluded.

From June 2016, a selection of articles from Cineuropa will be published on Movie View in Chinese, while Movie View articles about the Chinese market will be published on Cineuropa.