Deal secures co-production treaty with qualifying films not subject to China’s quota on foreign films.

Culture Secretary Sajid Javid has announced the ratification of a landmark film co-production treaty between the UK and China.

Javid made the announcement at the GREAT Festival of Creativity in Shanghai, China with Miao Xiaotian, president of the China Film Co-production Corporation.

The deal, which was negotiated for the UK by the British Film Institute (BFI) and China’s Film Bureau and China Film Co-production Corporation, with support from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and UK Trade & Investment in Beijing, was co-signed by Mr. Tong Gang, Vice Minister of SARFT.

It will allow qualifying co-productions to access national benefits including sources of finance and an easier distribution route to audiences. In the UK, this includes the Film Tax Relief and the BFI Film Fund.

In addition, eligible co-productions will not be subject to China’s quota on foreign films, meaning many more UK films will be shown to Chinese audiences than current restrictions allow.