CHINA:A trade dispute seems likely to deprive audiences temporarily of their favourite American films, writes Clifford Coonanin Beijing
China has banned Hollywood films, at least until February and possibly May, over a trade dispute with the United States and because US movies are proving too successful and hitting box office returns for local films. Chinese authorities are also said to be annoyed over the US continuing to sell arms to Taiwan.
The Film Bureau, which normally takes care of censorship issues, said it had not heard of any ban but industry sources say the order to block Hollywood movies, which are extremely popular in China, came from high in the state apparatus, possibly from the propaganda ministry.
Among the films falling foul of the move are Beowulf, Bee Movie and Stardust.
The ban, which is the toughest clampdown on foreign movies since they were allowed back into the country, began last Saturday and will continue until the end of February, at least after Chinese New Year, and some sources say it could continue until May. The Asian and Chinese arms of the studios have not been given any release slots in the first two months of 2008.
There is a lengthy list of issues dividing China and the US right now. Particularly irksome was a decision by Washington to file two cases at the World Trade Organisation against China: one over pirated copies of music and movies and another for placing market access barriers against US companies offering legitimate products.
The Motion Picture Association (MPA), which represents the major Hollywood studios, is seen as being one of the drivers behind the cases.
China is also unhappy about the US selling weapons to Taiwan and also objects to Congress honouring the Dalai Lama.
Chinese films have to struggle to compete with the big Hollywood blockbusters: the biggest movie in China this year is Transformers.
To help boost local movies, the screening of foreign movies is tightly controlled in China and there is a quota system which permits only 20 foreign films per year to be released.
There are regular blackout periods for foreign movies to boost domestic fare. Between September 15th and October 30th there was a freeze on foreign material and it had been presumed that December would also be for Chinese movies only.