A report focusing on the development of China's romantic films was released on Aug. 21 during the 3rd Lushan International Romance Film Week, during which the best romantic film and actors of 2021 were also selected.

The report was co-issued by the organizing committee of the Lushan film event, the China Film Foundation, and the Lighthouse Research Institute, with academic support provided by the China Film Critics Association. 

The report revealed that in 2021, China saw the release of 112 romance films, which grossed 3.15 billion yuan in total. Compared with statistics from recent years, the number of such productions was stable, but their box office revenue saw a decline, with COVID-19 cited as a big blow.

Zhu Yuqing, the chief editor of the report and director of the Special Fund for Film Investment and Financing Development of the China Film Foundation, broke down the data and highlighted the dominant domestic productions. Among 2021's romantic releases, 105 were made in China (including four from regions of Taiwan and Hong Kong), grossing 2.98 billion yuan, and the remaining seven were imported from foreign countries, grossing 170 million yuan. 

The report shows the more love elements in a romantic film, the more recognition the film will receive from the market. However, custom-made love films for special romantic festivals and occasions such as Valentine's Day and Qixi Festival usually received bad reviews from the audience because the quality largely didn't live up to their expectations. 

The analysis also showed that the people in second-tier cities are the biggest audience group to consume romantic films, accounting for 43.3% of all audiences who went to see them on the silver screen nationwide. Meanwhile, young people, especially those under 25 years old, are the major driving force, accounting for 48% of all audiences.

Rao Shuguang, president of the China Film Critics Association, pointed out that current romantic films tend to be connected with social realities and challenge prominent and transcendental love elements. At the same time, the overall quality of love films needs to be improved, and many of them rely too heavily on love-themed film seasons to make a profit.

An expert board convened by the China Film Foundation and the China Film Critics Association also handed out five awards to outstanding films as determined by fundamental statistics from the report and comprehensive factors such as audience feedback and social influence.

The highly acclaimed Shanghai-dialect romance film "B for Busy" won best romance film of the year, and its director and writer Shao Yihui won best screenplay writer. Director Sha Mo won the best director award for his film "Love Will Tear Us Apart," with Zhang Jingyi also winning best actress for her part in the film. Wang Chuanjun won best actor for his leading role in "The Curious Tale of Mr. Guo."

The report release event also launched a romance film pitch foundation and a new film project to tell another love story on Lushan Mountian, Jiangxi province. The scenic spot was once a filming location for China's most famous romantic classic, "Love on Lushan Mountain," (1980), which was also the inspiration for initiating the romantic film week.

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