Study on the Impact of Chinese Film Industry Policies on Independent Films

This study examines the marginalization of independent film within China’s evolving film policy and censorship system. While market reforms have modernized the industry, state control over film content remains stringent. Independent films—often critical of dominant ideologies—face structural barriers in funding, distribution, and exhibition. By analyzing national policies such as the “9550” Excellent Film Project and the “2131” Project and case studies of The Blue Kite, Devils on the Doorstep, and Lost in Beijing, the paper explores how censorship functions as a flexible ideological tool that combines political priorities with market mechanisms to suppress dissent while promoting state-sanctioned narratives. The study further investigates how cultural policy shapes filmmakers’ thematic choices and influences the film market, revealing the ongoing conflict between artistic freedom and state control. This paper argues that understanding Chinese film censorship requires moving beyond institutional and legal frameworks to consider cultural ideologies, aesthetic expectations, and national identity construction. Despite the creative resilience of independent filmmakers, their long-term sustainability under these constraints remains uncertain. Chapter 1. Chinese Film industry and Policy 1.1 The Transition from Cultural Reform to Creative Industry Policy in China 1.2 Policy Development in the Film Industry 1.3 Major Film Projects and Ideological Guidance   1.3.1 Main Melody Films and the “9550” Excellent Film Project   1.3.2 The “2131” Project and Targeted Support for Children's Films   1.3.3 Selective Policy Subsidies Chapter 2. Historical Evolution of Film Censorship in China 2.1 Institutional Development and Regulatory Authorities 2.2 Major Transformations in the Censorship System   2.2.1 Shifting Censorship Priorities and Themes   2.2.2 Evolution of Script Filing and Project Approval   2.2.3 Changes in Punitive and Enforcement Mechanisms Chapter 3. Current Film Censorship System 3.1 Overview of the Current Censorship System 3.2 Principles of the Censorship System 3.3 Key Characteristics of the Chinese Censorship System   3.3.1 Prior Approval Mechanism   3.3.2 Whole-Process Censorship   3.3.3 Content-Oriented Standards   3.3.4 Government-Led Administration 3.4 Censorship Procedures   3.4.1 Domestic Film Censorship   3.4.2 Imported Film Censorship   3.4.3 Censorship of China-International Co-Productions Chapter 4. Independent Filmmaking in China and Censorship 4.1 Definition of Independent Films 4.2 Creative Constraint under Chinese Censorship 4.3 Policy Favoritism Toward Ideologically Aligned Commercial Films 4.4 Commercial Success and the Marginalization of Independent Films 4.5 Navigating the Gaps of Control Chapter 5. Case Analyses of Censorship Practices 5.1 The Blue Kite 5.2 Devils on the Doorstep 5.3 Lost in Beijing Chapter 6. Discussion & Conclusion