State Council, Administration of Films Regulations

Promulgated: December 25 2001
Effective: February 1 2002
Applicability: The Regulations apply to the production, import, export, distribution and showing of feature films, documentary films, science and educational films, cartoon films and special subject films in the PRC (Article 2).

Main contents: The Regulations state that production, import, export, distribution and showing of films are subject to licensing (Article 5). Overseas organizations and individuals are not allowed to make films independently in the PRC. A domestic film production work unit may produce films in cooperation with foreign film producers but it must obtain the approval, on a case by case basis, from the radio, film and television administrative department of the State Council (Articles 18 & 19). In such cooperation, the foreign partners shall respect the social customs and conventions of the Chinese people (Article 21). Films are subject to censorship, and those that do not pass the censorship of the film censorship agency of the radio, film and television administrative department of the State Council must not be distributed, shown, imported or exported (Article 24). Film import business shall be handled exclusively by the film importers designated by the radio, film and television administrative department of the State Council (Article 30). Both private investment and foreign investment are permitted in construction or upgrading cinemas (Article 41). The Regulations also contain procedures for establishing enterprises in film distribution and showing as well as manufacturing of relevant audio and video products (Part Five).
Repealed legislation: State Council, Administration of Films Regulations, Jun 19 1996