Chinese cinema made more than two billion yuan (around US$250 million) in 2005, according to a report on China's Culture Industry by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences released in Beijing Wednesday.

 

Domestic films made up 60 percent of the total, once again surpassing the imported ones.

 

With the more active participation of the private sector and overseas, Chinese cinema has seen a boom. In the meantime, market demand for both home-made and imported films has increased.

 

The report noted that such important events as the centennial of Chinese cinema last year and the 60th victory anniversary of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression provided fresh material and good opportunities for domestic films. Annual production, total investment in, and market share of domestic films all hit a record high last year. Domestic films not only scored high in the box office at home, but also had a surprising profit from external trade.

 

In addition to a surge of revenue in the film sector, film has become a daily consumption and a major topic for common Chinese, the report said.

 

(Xinhua News Agency January 12, 2006)