The launch ceremony for the online Chinese New Year movie season Photo: Courtesy of the China Film Association

China's three streaming giants, iQIYI, Tencent Video and Youku, are working together to introduce nearly 20 movies to their platforms for the upcoming Spring Festival. The season was kicked off by representatives from the three at a ceremony on Friday. 

Online releases have been an important part of the world's largest film market since the COVID-19 outbreak in early 2020. The upcoming Spring Festival online releases include not only new films like The Shaolin Temple: Legend of Debao and Dreams of Getting Rich, but also recent popular movies such as The Rescue and Shock Wave 2. 

Aimed at fully meeting the entertainment needs of millions of Chinese families who are choosing to stay put during the festival instead of traveling amid the epidemic, the move has been encouraged by China's regulator authority the National Radio and Television Administration. Li Zhongzhi, deputy director-general of the department in charge of online video and audio programs, told media that the "online release season marks an important milestone in China's online movie development," going on to note that he hopes the three platforms can "work together to contribute content for the holiday."  

"The upcoming season will be an unforgettable one as it marks the first time that cinema and online releases, studios and streaming platforms have united for an online release Spring Festival season," said Yang Xianghua, vice president of iQIYI.