Filmmakers and experts gathered at the Golden Coconut Main Forum during the seventh Hainan Island International Film Festival (HIIFF) on Dec. 4 in Sanya, Hainan province, to explore new opportunities brought by the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP) and new driving forces for the film industry's development.

Participants pose for a group photo at the Golden Coconut Main Forum during the seventh Hainan Island International Film Festival (HIIFF) held in Sanya, Hainan province, Dec. 4, 2025. [Photo courtesy of HIIFF Organizing Committee]

Wang Bin, head of the Hainan provincial Party committee's Publicity Department, said the FTP will launch island-wide special customs operations on Dec. 18, representing a significant step in China's economic opening.

He said the policies could support the film industry through favorable taxation, talent recruitment incentives, streamlined equipment imports and improved capital flows.

"Policies such as the 'dual 15%' preferential rates for corporate and personal income tax, the cap on personal income tax for high-end talent, and zero tariffs on imported equipment can effectively reduce industry costs and create conditions for high-quality production and international cooperation in Chinese cinema," Wang said.

Wang expressed hope that filmmakers would work together in Hainan to advance film development, pioneer new forms of industry collaboration, and help build China into a filmmaking powerhouse.

China's film market has seen box office revenue and audience numbers rise in 2025, showing steady year-on-year growth. As of the end of October, domestic animated films accounted for 45.1% of annual box office revenue, reflecting a shift in audience preferences.

At the Golden Coconut Main Forum, which focused on high-quality film development and free trade port opportunities, participants discussed opportunities and challenges facing China's film industry.

Fu Ruoqing, chairman of China Film Group Corporation, speaks at the Golden Coconut Main Forum during the seventh Hainan Island International Film Festival (HIIFF) held in Sanya, Hainan province, Dec. 4, 2025. [Photo courtesy of HIIFF Organizing Committee]

Fu Ruoqing, chairman of China Film Group Corporation, stated in his speech that film embodies a nation's cultural memory and spiritual aspirations, serving as a crucial indicator of a country's cultural soft power. With the Hainan FTP development reaching a pivotal stage, Fu outlined three key missions for the film industry.

"First, we need to deeply cultivate the regional and cultural genes of 'maritime culture' and 'tropical ecology,' integrating an international perspective with local expression to create a globally distinctive 'Hainan narrative,'" he said.

"Second, we need to drive technological innovation, leveraging the FTP's policy advantages to build an industry highland, and using our self-developed Cinity LED projection technology as an example of achieving 'overtaking on a new track,' showcasing the global leadership of Chinese film technology."

"Third, we need to establish new paradigms for global dissemination, building a cultural hub that reaches the Global South, and leverage opportunities such as the China premiere of 'Avatar: Fire and Ash' in Sanya to enhance Hainan's international cultural influence," Fu continued.

"Investing in young creative talent is investing in the future of Chinese cinema," said Li Jie, president of Damai Entertainment. He added that Hainan FTP is becoming a key platform for emerging international filmmakers, thanks to its supportive policies and open environment.

A roundtable panel with experts followed, exploring three main topics: content innovation and global narrative, international collaboration and industrial upgrade, and institutional opening up and technological empowerment.

Experts join in a panel discussion during the Golden Coconut Main Forum during the seventh Hainan Island International Film Festival (HIIFF) held in Sanya, Hainan province, Dec. 4, 2025. [Photo courtesy of HIIFF Organizing Committee]

Huang Qunfei, deputy general manager of Huaxia Film Distribution, stated that films need to incorporate Chinese elements with universal human values to overcome cultural barriers.

He also called for a tailored distribution approach for each country. Huang expressed hope that Hainan, using free trade port policies, will become a hub connecting Chinese filmmakers with global markets, capital, and talent.

Marco Müller, renowned film producer, scholar, curator, and president of the jury for the Golden Coconut Awards competition section of the seventh HIIFF, suggested that Chinese cinema's international expansion need not focus primarily on North America and could draw more lessons from the Global South, particularly Southeast Asia.

He expressed high hopes for the HIIFF's role as a cultural bridge, viewing it as poised to become a hub connecting Global South film cultures.

Huangfu Yichuan, president and editor-in-chief of Contemporary Cinema magazine, highlighted Hainan's unique cultural attributes: its maritime heritage, pioneering spirit, multicultural blend, and the forward-looking opportunities created by the FTP.

He said the key is using universal cinematic language to tell local stories, helping Hainan evolve from a tourist destination into a storyteller for China.