Catherine Zeta-Jones attends the opening ceremony of Qingdao Oriental Movie Metropolis on Sunday. Xu Chongde / for China Daily

Qingdao launches Oriental Movie Metropolis

Hawk Koch, former president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, said the academy is increasingly eager to take part in international partnerships.

"The collaboration between us and Wanda is the right thing happening at the right time and in the right place," he said.

In a forum after the project's launch ceremony, Hollywood producer and power player Harvey Weinstein said the Qingdao project provided a good platform for global filmmakers to promote the art of moviemaking.

"Of course, we want to make movies about other cultures and based in other lands, but we don't have the knowledge. With the Qingdao project, it's possible to partner with someone with that knowledge," said Weinstein.

Huang Qunfei, general manager of Beijing New Film Association Co Ltd, one of China's largest theater chains, shared his enthusiasm for the project.

"It seems likely that Wanda will become a major company in China's film and TV industry in the near future on account of its commitment to the sector and its management skills," he said.

The first phase of Qingdao Oriental Movie Metropolis is expected to open for business in June 2016, and the entire project will come into operation in June 2017.