MAPPING THE GREATER CHINA FILM FESTIVAL CIRCUIT: AN ACTOR-NETWORK THEORY APPROACH

This study maps the Greater China Film Festival Circuit, focusing on the strategic roles played by major film festivals in Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan in constructing regional identity, cultural diplomacy, and global cinematic connectivity. Employing a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) methodology, the research is framed through Cultural Globalization Theory and the Circuit of Culture Model to investigate how these festivals navigate the intersections of regional representation and global film culture. The analysis examines the influence of both human and non-human actors organizers, governments, sponsors, platforms, and policies—in shaping festival networks, branding strategies, and communication practices. Beyond their strategic and political significance, these film festivals also function as vital cultural institutions that preserve, reinterpret, and project diverse Chinese cultural narratives. They serve as key sites for representing national and regional identities, fostering intercultural dialogue, and shaping how Chinese culture is perceived both domestically and internationally. Key findings reveal that festivals such as the Shanghai International Film Festival, Beijing International Film Festival, and Golden Horse Awards function as hybrid sites where global aspirations and hybrid platforms for international communication, cultural representation, and strategic positioning within global cinema networks. The study concludes that these festivals act as vital nodes within transnational cinema circuits, offering insights into how Greater China leverages cultural events to assert identity, soft power, and international relevance.