Concentration or deconcentration? Exploring the changing geographies of film production and consumption in China

Abstract

Over the past two decades, the film industry in China has experienced dramatic growth. However, little research has been conducted to examine the features of this fast-growing sector from the geographical perspective. Drawing on quantitative data sources, this paper presents a pilot study of the changing geographies of film production and consumption in mainland China. It explores the tendencies of concentration and deconcentration in China’s film sector, identifies the major centres of film production and consumption in the country, and investigates the factors that may impact the formation and transition of such geographical patterns. The major purpose is to enrich our understanding of the economic geography of the film industry by providing new evidences from a transitional economy. The outcome reveals that the development and spatial distribution of the film industry in China have been affected both by market and non-market factors. Compared to its counterparts in Western countries, the Chinese state tends to play a more influential role in shaping the patterns of film production and consumption in the country.