2025 marks the 120th anniversary of Chinese mainland cinema, a journey that began on a Beijing stage and has since spanned from hand-cranked cameras to cutting-edge CG studios worldwide. We're celebrating ten groundbreaking firsts in this century-plus story, and here are two milestones that bookend the journey:
1. First Film on the Chinese Mainland: Dingjun Mountain (1905)
In autumn 1905, photo studio owner Ren Qingtai teamed up with Peking Opera master Tan Xinpei to bring the timeless tale of Dingjun Mountain to the silver screen. Shot at Ren's Fengtai Photo Studio, the short opera scenes premiered at Beijing's Daguanlou Theater on December 28, 1905, marking the birth of Chinese mainland cinema.
10. First Chinese Mainland Animated Film to Top Global Box Office: Ne Zha 2
Fast forward to this year, and the animated sequel Ne Zha 2 made history by becoming the first Chinese mainland animated feature to claim the top spot in the global animation box office. This milestone underscores the industry's evolution from local opera adaptations to international CG blockbusters.
These milestones, from the very first frames to record-breaking CG spectacles, show how local stories can speak to the world. As the Chinese mainland film community enters its 120th year, audiences everywhere are watching for the next groundbreaking first.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
