Public Film Screening Events and the Production of Chinese Urbanisms, 1949-2000

This article examines the transformation of Chinese urbanism in the latter half of the twentieth century through the lens of state-organized public film screening events taking place in major urban centers. It enriches existing accounts about the relationship between cinema and the city by offering an analysis of the practices occurring “off the screen.” Our research demonstrates how film weeks and film festivals were intentionally designed to cultivate specific cultural atmospheres and foster the acceptance of state-driven urban development. We highlight the often-overlooked yet crucial role of state-orchestrated cultural programming in molding the very fabric of urban desires. Furthermore, by analyzing the strategic curation and spatial and discursive contexts of these cinematic events, this study underscores the necessity of understanding the broader sociocultural context surrounding cinematic experiences to fully grasp their impact on shaping urban perceptions and the lived realities of the city across different economic and political transitions.