STVF MARKET｜Domestic and Overseas Exhibitors in Talks about Industry Development on the First Day of STVF Market of the 29th STVF

On June 24, STVF MARKET of the 29th Shanghai TV Festival opened at Shanghai Exhibition Center. It brought together professionals from the global television industry, aiming to closely monitor industry trends, promote innovation, and foster the prosperous development of the television industry, while enhancing international cooperation and cultural exchange. This edition of STVF MARKET not only provided a high-quality platform for showcasing and trading within the industry but also offered new perspectives, insights, and opportunities for the development of the television sector.

A Market Exhibition

Gathering Resources Across the Entire Industry Chain

The exhibition assembled numerous leading institutions covering the entire TV industry chain, as a one-stop resource integration center for television production, distribution, procurement, and more. Participants included “Shanghai Showcase” for Screen Productions, Shanghai Media Group (SMG), New Classics Media, Xi Xi Pictures, Shanghai Broadcasting Film & Television Production Association, Shanghai High-tech Films and Televisions City, Shanghai International Resort, China (Shanghai) Network Audio-visual Industry Base in Yangpu District (GKIC Park), Taiwan Pavilion, KOCCA from South Korea, IMS, MIP, Kansai TV, KAKAO Entertainment, and IRIB Media Trade. Domestic and international production and distribution companies, shooting bases, and organizations gathered at STVF MARKET, creating a bustling atmosphere.

“Shanghai Audiovisual” Pavilion

To Focus on Six Sections

During this year’s STVF MARKET, Shanghai Municipal Administration of Radio and Television established the “Shanghai Showcase” for Screen Productions for the first time, which consisted of six major sections: thematic promotion, boutique creation, public services, industry development, technological innovation, and international communication. Highlights of thematic promotion included award-winning news programs promoting Xi Jinping’s ideal of a new era of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and the Shanghai Media New Media Alliance’s communication matrix. The boutique creation section showcased Shanghai-produced high-quality TV dramas and excellent online audiovisual programs from recent years. Public services emphasized issues such as the governance effectiveness of rectifying “matryoshka-like” charging mechanism and complex operations for the television industry in Shanghai, as well as accessibility projects. The industry development segment focused on Shanghai’s new patterns of audiovisual development and recent trends. Technological innovation featured applications of ultra-high-definition video, glasses-free 3D, Alibaba’s digital human “Liri”, AR/VR, and other new technologies in the radio and television field. International communication highlighted Shanghai’s recent overseas audiovisual promotion activities and the export of high-quality content.

Market Activities

Arena for Industry Leaders to Discuss New Industry Trends

On the first day of STVF MARKET, activities focused on current hot topics in the film and television industry, providing policy interpretations for the deep integration of “film and television + cultural tourism” and professional support for managing the financial chain of the film and television industry. Additionally, a delegation from Nicaragua in Central America promoted high-quality audiovisual programs on-site, contributing to the creation of a new chapter in the world’s film and television map by the Shanghai TV Festival.

“One Drama, One City”

- Promotion Conference of “Film and Television + Cultural Tourism”

In recent years, the vigorous integration development of film and television with cultural tourism has been particularly appealing due to its bidirectional appeal. Film and television works resonate with audiences, offering deeper insights into cities and bringing new opportunities and challenges to each other.

The integration of film and television with cultural tourism mutually empowers, fostering achievements and promising limitless possibilities for the future. At the “One Drama, One City” Promotion Conference of “Film and Television + Cultural Tourism”, representatives from Shanghai, Sichuan, Fujian, Anhui, and other regions introduced their respective policies and advantages in film and television cultural tourism. Their aim is to jointly promote the innovative integration and development of the television drama industry.

Shanghai boasts unique cultural resources such as red culture, Shanghai-style culture, and Jiangnan culture, which provide continuous inspiration for filmmakers. Over the past decade, Shanghai Film and Television Production Services Institution has provided high-quality “Shanghai services” to filmmakers. According to Yu Zhiqing, director of Shanghai Film and Television Production Services Institution, the institution has offered four major categories and a total of 116 consulting and coordination services to film production teams, and established a segmented service brand.

In recent years, Sichuan Province has implemented significant policies to support major literary and artistic projects, aiming to encourage the emergence of high-quality works, talents, benefits, and brands, further promoting the cultural construction of the province in the new era. “For major influential literary and artistic projects (TV dramas, films, etc.), Sichuan Province provides support based on standards not exceeding 30% of the actual total investment of the project, up to a maximum of RMB 20 million,” said Li Xiang, member of the Party Committee and Chief Engineer of the Sichuan Provincial Bureau of Radio and Television.

Xiamen, Quanzhou, and Fuzhou in Fujian Province have long been popular filming locations for TV dramas. During the peak broadcast period of the TV drama HIDDEN LOVE, 100,000 tourists flocked daily to the “Huandong Romantic Route” in Xiamen for sightseeing. Recently, the TV drama WILL LOVE IN SPRING was broadcasted on CCTV, and the filming location in Quanzhou again became popular, ranking among the top five in tourist orders during the “May Day” holiday across China, effectively promoting the economic development of the filming location. To attract film crews to Fujian, Lin Cheng, director of the TV Drama Department of the Fujian Provincial Bureau of Radio and Television, demonstrated Fujian’s advantages in TV drama creation and services. “Official film and television service agencies have been established in various prefecture-level cities. We release the ‘TV Drama Shooting Service Guide’ annually and have launched the ‘Shooting in Fujian’ WeChat applet to provide comprehensive and efficient services for crews filming in Fujian; provincial-level special TV drama support funds have been newly established, covering the full cycle of TV drama creation, spanning gathering materials for inspiration, scriptwriting, filming and production, promotion and marketing, and broadcasting and rewards.”

Cao Jun, director of TV Drama under Department of Cultural and Tourism of Anhui Province, highlighted Anhui’s advantages in topic selection resources, system reform and system support for integration of cultural tourism and radio and television, and technological, ecological, location, and business environments. To promote literary and artistic creation, support film and television production, and empower the integration and development of cultural tourism industries, Anhui Province has introduced a series of incentive policies, such as the “Guiding Opinions on Accelerating the Construction of a Province with Cultural Strength”.

The integration of film and television with cultural tourism has always been Shenzhen’s “cultural image”. This young and dynamic city is vibrant and charismatic as the filming place for TV dramas such as METEOR SHOWER and City of Youth. Wang Haoyu, industry expansion commissioner of the Shenzhen Film and Television Industry Service Center, said the center was established by the Publicity Department of the Shenzhen Municipal Committee of CPC, offering convenient and diverse shooting resources. “We provide comprehensive services for film and television production teams, from specialized location scouting, settlement and policy guidance for film and television enterprises, to comprehensive services such as film and television venture capital and co-production.”

Ningbo features a unique topography with high terrain in the southwest and low terrain in the northeast, boasting diverse landscapes. In addition to its natural resources, Ningbo is home to two major bases: Xiangshan Global Studios and In Show City. The city’s film and television industry benefits from comprehensive services and a professional filming system. At the promotional event, Dai Liuxia, Director of the Oriental 1910 Film and Television Industry Service Center of Ningbo, stated, “Under the leadership of the Publicity Department of Ningbo Municipal Committee of CPC, the center serves production teams with comprehensive, all-in-one services, including policy publicizing and implementation, administrative coordination, film and television data collection, and project approval consultation.”

 Financial Services Promotion of Bank of Shanghai:

Customized Solutions

As the blockbuster drama of early 2024, BLOSSOMS SHANGHAI, has caused a sensation. Huanghe Road has become a hotspot for selfies, the Fairmont Peace Hotel’s Blossom suites are fully booked, and stocks related to BLOSSOMS SHANGHAI are trending. The production of BLOSSOMS SHANGHAI owes its success in part to financial backers. According to media reports, Bank of Shanghai, as one of the key financial backers, provided substantial credit support during the three-year production period.

During STVF MARKET events, Bank of Shanghai held a financial services promotion to comprehensively interpret customized financial solutions tailored for the film and television industry. This provided a platform for industry practitioners to understand financial policies and financial tools, and expand financing channels.

It is said that Bank of Shanghai supports cultural and creative enterprises through specialized services and preferential policies, such as offering loans with a 50% discount on the Loan Prime Rate (LPR) for up to RMB 5 million. Furthermore, Bank of Shanghai implements cultural sponsorships and special funds to facilitate the smooth implementation of film and television projects.

Bank of Shanghai is also committed to assisting film and television enterprises in international expansion, offering services such as establishing “combination of domestic and foreign moves” and facilitating “cross-border short-term financing” Additionally, the bank’s “100-currency Plan” aims to support the Chinese film and television industry’s entry into markets along the Belt and Road route. One of Bank of Shanghai’s shareholders is Santander Bank, Spain’s largest bank, illustrating their collaboration to help the film and television industry expand beyond China and into the Latin American market.

Global Spotlight:

Promotion Conference of Audiovisual Programmes in Nicaragua

This year’s television market attracted numerous overseas exhibitors and guests. At the “Global Spotlight: Promotion Conference of Audiovisual Programmes in Nicaragua”, a delegation of Nicaraguan government officials and cultural industry representatives came to exchange ideas. Daniel Edmundo Ortega, Head of the Council for Communications and Civil Affairs of the Republic of Nicaragua, expressed his delight in attending the Shanghai Television Festival to introduce Nicaraguan culture and development to the Chinese people and television professionals.

Through promotional videos, attendees experienced Nicaragua’s stable social atmosphere, excellent business environment, advanced infrastructure, hospitality, local customs, and vibrant cultural landscape. Idania Castillo, director of the National Film Library of Nicaragua, recounted the development history of Nicaraguan cinema, showcasing its unique charm.

SYMBIOSIS, a documentary jointly produced by CCTV and the Nicaraguan government, was introduced with captivating segments. Starting from the perspective of “volcanoes”, the documentary explored León Viejo, Nicaragua, revealing similarities in biodiversity, thermal spring tourism, local coffee and tea cultivation with Tengchong’s Heshun Ancient Town in Yunnan, China. It narrated touching stories of mutual inspiration and promoted harmonious coexistence between people and nature in both China and Nicaragua.

As a country along the Belt and Road route, will Nicaragua deepen cooperation with China’s film and television industry in the future? Nicaraguan government officials expressed hope for more high-quality Chinese dramas to enter Nicaragua, as many Chinese productions have already gained popularity and local audience appreciation.

The opening day of the television market exhibition was rich in content and packed with activities. From June 25 to June 26, STVF MARKET exhibition and activities will continue at the Shanghai Exhibition Center. Discover more excitement awaits!

View the schedule

The 29th Shanghai Television Festival (STVF) is hosted by the National Radio and Television Administration, China Media Group, and the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government, and organized by Shanghai Municipal Administration of Radio and Television and Shanghai Media Group, with co-organization by the Administration Committee of Lin-gang Special Area of China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone, and special support from Shanghai Lingang Special Area Investment Holding (Group) Co., Ltd.