Shooting finish, professional review and publicizing awards and subsidies happen in the same year, which is known as the “Qingdao speed” for supporting its film and TV industry. At the end of December 2022, Qingdao unveiled the 2022 Awarded and Subsidized film and TV Projects. A number of outstanding projects shot or produced in Qingdao have been benefited and the total amount of awards and subsidies were up to RMB4.8mln.

As the first city of film in China designated by the UNESCO, Qingdao commits to seeking new ways of developing its film and TV industry. According to the Several Policies of Qingdao on Boosting High-quality Development of Film and TV Industry released in February 2022, awards and subsidies involve the citywide film and TV companies and the entire industrial chain, including film and TV making, production, release, broadcast, talent cultivation and derivatives development. In addition, the Several Policies and its Implementing Regulations pace up with industrial trends and extend the scope to internet-based films, drama series and micro and short plays. The combined awards and subsidies for a project scoring a RMB100mln box office at the provincial, municipal and district level is expected to hit RMB10mln.

On the published list, The Wandering Earth II is a sci-fi blockbuster and Yesterday Once More is an art film on love. The Old Boys, a TV series on old friends creating a business, Moscow Mission, an action film, Any Human Heart, a TV series on medical service and Imperfect Victim, a mysterious TV series, have all embodied the brand of “made in Qingdao”. The film named Her Story, produced in Qingdao, tries to examine the reality from the feminine perspective. According to the Qingdao’s award and subsidy policies, the film and TV projects that present Qingdao elements, tell Qingdao stories or highlight Qingdao are entitled to subsidies at a rate of from 20% to 40%, and a crew can be granted a maximum of RMB5mln.

A combination of “intangible” award and subsidy policies and “bricks-and-mortar” film and TV bases have produced a sustainable influence on film and TV practitioners, projects and companies. Consequently, a number of film and TV teams have established in-depth partnership with Qingdao. Gong Ge’er, producer of The Wandering Earth II said, “Qingdao is where “the Wandering Earth” series was born and will always be our first choice.” (Mi Jingyu)

Her Story, an outstanding film produced in Qingdao from the feminine perspective.