Variety reports:
In its most drastic measure ever against Hollywood, Chinese authorities have banned the release of American pics for at least three months.
Ban began Saturday and will continue until the end of February at least, but Chinese sources say it could continue until May.
Central-government order came from echelons higher up than the State Administration for Film Radio and Television or the Film Bureau, which normally handle movie industry policy and application. Ruling likely emanated within the Propaganda Ministry.
Part of the explanation offered was that:
... the film ban is seen in some quarters as retaliation against the Motion Picture Assn.'s studio members for persuading the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to take action against China through the World Trade Organization over intellectual property protection and market access (Daily Variety, April, 11).
While the IP and piracy case came as little surprise, China was outraged that film import quotas, blackout periods (when only local films show) and other restrictions might be picked over by the WTO.
But China says there is no ban:
Chinese film industry officials denied on Thursday a news report that China is banning Hollywood movies for three months to protect local films.
...
... Zhang Pimin, deputy director-general of China's Film Bureau, and Xiao Ping, vice president of import and export business at state-run China Film Group, both denied the report in phone interviews.
"We haven't received instructions like that and we haven't set policies like that," Zhang said.
"We're continually going through Hollywood movies. We haven't stopped," Xiao said.
