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Once a black sheep genre no one would touch, sci-fi is now one of the most appealing to Beijing. China has issued new guidelines on developing sci-fi films that highlight how the CCP hopes the genre can further its ideological & technological goals: https://variety.com/2020/film/news/china-guidelines-science-fiction-1234737913/
Makes loads of sense: Heavy in VFX, sci-fi films have built-in commercial potential; they’re set in the future, so raise fewer political problems; they can showcase China as a technologically advanced nation helping the world (eg. “Wandering Earth”)
So of course, sci-fi films should first & foremost adhere to Xi Jinping Thought by “highlighting Chinese values” & “cultivating contemporary Chinese innovation.” They should also “disseminate scientific thought” and “raise the spirit of scientists.”
Local firms seeking to improve China’s VFX capacity should be considered strategically important in the same way as those working to wean Beijing from dependence on foreign software and semiconductors. R&D, production and use of China-made film tech is urged.
Kids should be made to watch “excellent sci-fi movies,” and unis urged to “strengthen the training of sci-fi talent.” Film festival should be encouraged to create sci-fi departments.
The way financing currently works in China isn’t very conducive to huge sci-fi films, which are more expensive, complex & slow to produce. Guidelines say firms should be allowed to explore new credit products, loan models and types of insurance to support these big VFX projects.
My fav thing about this piece was discovering the interesting Party-speak term “培根铸魂” — and more importantly, that Google hilariously translates it as “Bacon for Soul” (If this is Xi Jinping Thought, sign me up 
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