Shangai Films & Media Corporation

About Shangai Films & Media Corporation

Shanghai Film Co., Ltd. (SSE: 601595), formerly known as Shanghai Oriental Television Distribution Co., Ltd., is a China-based company primarily engaged in film distribution and projection. The company was founded in 1994 and is a subsidiary of the state-owned Shanghai Film Group Co., Ltd. In August 2016, it became one of the first state-owned film companies in China to be listed on the A-share main board.

The company's business model encompasses a complete industry chain including film distribution, cinema chain operation, copyright management, and online ticketing services. It has distributed numerous films, such as "The Lost Bladesman" and "Finding Mr. Right." Shanghai Film Co., Ltd. operates the largest cinema circuit in China, "Shanghai United Circuit," which has consistently ranked top in the nation's box office. Beyond its core activities, the company invests in, develops, and operates cinemas and cultural facilities. In a strategic move to bolster its intellectual property portfolio, the company has increased its stake in Shanghai Film Yuan, an entity established to manage the copyrights of classic animation and film works from Shanghai Film Group and Shanghai Animation Film Studio.

Shanghai Film Group, the parent company, was formed in 2001 through the merger of several established studios, including Shanghai Film Studio, Shanghai Animation Film Studio, and Shanghai Documentary Film Studio. This conglomerate has a significant history, with some of its constituent studios being central to China's art and culture since the 1890s. In a notable international partnership, Shanghai Film Group and Huahua Media agreed in 2017 to finance at least 25% of all Paramount Pictures films over a three-year period and to assist with their distribution and marketing in China.