The China–UK Film Co-Production Treaty: Goals and gaps in a geopolitical context

The China–UK Film Co-Production Treaty, signed in 2014, marked a symbolic step in strengthening bilateral cultural diplomacy and industry cooperation. This article critically reassesses the treaty’s intentions and outcomes within wider political, economic, and cultural contexts. Drawing on typologies from Morawetz et al. and Hjort, it explores the contrasting motivations behind co-productions and the structural ­barriers that have limited the treaty’s impact. The analysis situates the UK–China case within broader global co-production frameworks and highlights the challenges posed by regulatory asymmetries, institutional fragmentation, and geopolitical tensions. While the treaty aimed to facilitate mutual access and creative exchange, its limited results point to deeper misalignments between policy ambition and industrial reality. This study contributes to ongoing debates on international co-productions, film policy in China and the UK, and the role of soft power in cross-cultural screen collaboration amid an evolving global film landscape.