A Bureau, an institute and a spirit: The 1995 sundance film festival in Beijing

Wesley JACKS

doi:10.1080/01439685.2025.2490647

A Bureau, an institute and a spirit: The 1995 sundance film festival in Beijing

Wesley JACKS^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Department of Digital Arts and Creative Industries

Research output: Journal Publications › Journal Article (refereed) › peer-review

Abstract

In October 1995, the China Film Bureau and Sundance Film Institute co-hosted a weeklong festival across Beijing. Each host provided a lineup of eight films to be screened in cinemas and a few dozen participants for a series of forums on topics like film financing, distribution strategies and co-production. Thus far overlooked in Sino–Hollywood and Chinese film festival histories, this article argues the design and operation of the Sundance Film Festival in Beijing reveals the Chinese industry renegotiating political and market forces at the start of Marketization, and the Sundance Institute exploring an emerging global market. This article examines the organization, invited guests, programming selections and physical sites of the festival.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	23-34
Number of pages	12
Journal	Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television
Volume	46
Issue number	1
Early online date	2 May 2025
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/01439685.2025.2490647
Publication status	Published - 2026

Bibliographical note

WONG Sum Yi provided invaluable archival assistance.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 IAMHIST & Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

Funding

Research funding for this article was supported by an Early Career Scheme grant from the Research Grants Council of Hong Kong. In addition, WONG Sum Yi provided invaluable archival assistance.

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth
SDG 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities
SDG 17 Partnerships for the Goals

Access to Document

10.1080/01439685.2025.2490647

Cite this

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abstract = "In October 1995, the China Film Bureau and Sundance Film Institute co-hosted a weeklong festival across Beijing. Each host provided a lineup of eight films to be screened in cinemas and a few dozen participants for a series of forums on topics like film financing, distribution strategies and co-production. Thus far overlooked in Sino–Hollywood and Chinese film festival histories, this article argues the design and operation of the Sundance Film Festival in Beijing reveals the Chinese industry renegotiating political and market forces at the start of Marketization, and the Sundance Institute exploring an emerging global market. This article examines the organization, invited guests, programming selections and physical sites of the festival.",

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A Bureau, an institute and a spirit: The 1995 sundance film festival in Beijing

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Funding

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

On the Screen but Off the Map: Import Film Distribution in the PRC 1978-1993 (《地圖以外，銀幕之上：1978-1993年的中國進口電影》)

Cite this

A Bureau, an institute and a spirit: The 1995 sundance film festival in Beijing

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Funding

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Projects

On the Screen but Off the Map: Import Film Distribution in the PRC 1978-1993 (《地圖以外，銀幕之上：1978-1993年的中國進口電影》)

Cite this