Procedural course for Chinese-foreign film co-production and assisted co-production fall into three stages: application for project establishment, production and review and approval of completed film.
Stage One: Application for Project Establishment
1. Domestic and overseas co-producing parties enter co-production agreement or letter of intent;
2. The lead domestic party process on-line application with E-Government Network under the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television (click http://dy.chinasarft.gov.cn/);
(Note: For co-production and assisted co-production, submit to provincial or municipal competent authorities of radio, film and television; in case of change from domestic production to co-production, submit to CFCC.)
3. The lead domestic party delivers the proposed script and applying documents to the provincial or municipal competent authorities for the region in which this party is registered for comments on script; where the lead domestic party is directly under a central or state organ (army), it shall submit directly to CFCC;
(Note: The lead domestic party must be eligible for co-producing films, namely having produced or co-produced two or more films, and need to produce “The Film Public Exhibition Permit” of the films it has produced, as part of applying documents.)
4. The lead domestic party submits the script and applying documents to CFCC, including:
1) An application letter for project establishment jointly signed by all co-producing parties (original with official seal of each party );
2) Company profile of each co-producing party (including performance record, mail address, postal code, telephone and fax numbers, email and website);
3) Valid business license of each co-producing party (copy);
4) Proof of financial credit issued for each co-producing party from their respective banks (not proof of deposit);
5) Letter of Authority for the person responsible for the project issued by the lead domestic party (original with official seal, including contact information of the appointed person: mail address, postal code, telephone and fax numbers, and email);
6) Letter of Intent for co-production or assisted co-production signed by all co-producing parties ( copy) ;
7) A list of major creative contributors, including names, nationalities and filmography of the screenwriter, director, cinematographer, production designer and leading actors as well as copies of their passports or ID certificates; for leading actors, their roles in the film must be stated (in co-produced films, overseas actors must not exceed two-thirds of the main cast; there is no such requirement for assisted co-production);
8) Letter of Authorization from the screenwriter authorizing the parties to exploit the work (copy with signature by the screenwriter );
9) Synopsis of the film (within 1000 words)
10) Three copies of the script in simplified Chinese, font size 4, with numbered scenes and pages.
5. CFCC read and assess the script and applying documents, and then produce a written report before submitting to the competent authorities;
6. The competent authorities issue "The Film Project Establishment Notice" and "The Chinese-Foreign Film Co-production Permit" ;
7. CFCC execute agreement with all co-producing parties.
Stage Two: Production
1. After the film has been approved to shoot, the lead domestic party shall file the following documents on-line with E-Government Network under the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television before submitting the same documents in print to CFCC:
1) Concrete information needed for "The Official Shooting Plan" drafted and issued by the Film Bureau, including:
(1) Names of all co-producing parties
(2) Chinese film title
(3) Production period
(4) Shooting locations in China
(5) Entry and exit ports for customs clearance
(6) List of departments and organizations "The Official Shooting Plan" is addressed to and copied in;
2) An application letter for hiring overseas major creative contributors (there is no such requirement for assisted co-production), including:
(1) Names of all co-producing parties
(2) Chinese film title
(3)List of overseas major creative contributors (screenwriter, director, cinematographer, production designer and leading actors) to hire, including their names, nationalities and filmography; for leading actors, their roles in the film must be stated;
3) An application letter for English version of the film title (there is no such requirement for assisted co-production), including:
(1) Names of all co-producing parties
(2) Chinese film title
(3) Proposed English film title for release print; an explanation is necessary in case of non literal translation;
4) Where necessary, an application letter for change of co-producing party or parties, including:
(1) Names of original co-producing parties
(2) Chinese film title
(3) Reasons of changing co-producing party or parties
(4)Names of the co-producing party or parties to change
Besides, additional documents are necessary: statements from the parties involved (including that from the quitting party or parties), company profile and proof of financial credit of the new party or parties, and a Letter of Intent on the co-production between the updated co-producing parties;
5) Where necessary, an application letter for change of Chinese or English film title, including:
(1) Names of all co-producing parties
(2) Original Chinese or English film title
(3) New Chinese or English film title;
2. Where necessary, the lead domestic party shall submit an application letter together with the copies of the overseas crew's passports to CFCC for visa processing;
3. If CFCC is asked to process customs clearance for the temporary import of filming equipment, film stocks, and audio and visual products, a Letter of Attorney and other relevant materials must be provided by the lead domestic party.
Stage Three: Review and Approval of Completed Film
1. After the film is completed, the lead domestic party shall process on-line with E-Government Network under the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television for film review, and deliver the completed film in HDCAM format together with relevant documents to the provincial or municipal competent authorities for the region in which this party is registered for viewing comments. Afterwards, it shall submit to CFCC for assessment and verification before "The Film Review Decision" is issued. Where the lead domestic party is directly under a central or state organ (army), it shall submit directly to CFCC for viewing comments. Upon initial approval, CFCC shall submit the film to the competent authorities for final approval;
2. The lead domestic party must submit the following materials to CFCC for film review:
1) Viewing comments produced by the provincial or municipal competent authorities;
2) Completed film in HDCAM format;
3) The Domestic Feature Film (Film or Digital) Review Statement;
4)The Domestic Film Review and Approval Form, filled out by the lead domestic party，four originals and each with official seal, plus a digital version;
5) The Major Creative Contributors Form，made out in duplicate, plus a digital version;
6) An application letter for English film title;
7) Where applicable, a copy of approval for change of co-producing party or parties;
8) A digital version of complete dialogues;
9) Credits and lyrics;
10) "The Film Production Permit (Single Film)" returned by the processing party;
11) Where applicable, a copy of approval for change of the film title;
12) A copy of the co-production agreement between all co-producing parties; in case of change of co-producing party or parties, a copy of the updated co-production agreement should be submitted;
13) Stills (no less than 6 pieces);
14) A Letter of Authorization from the lead domestic party for the handling person to collect "The Film Public Exhibition Permit" (with official seal);
Note: Items 4, 5, 8 and 12 may be burned on two compact discs, one for CFCC and the other for the Film Bureau.
