The surge in popularity of Chinese movies globally is being fueled by technological innovations and the growing skill set of Chinese filmmakers to produce compelling storylines, according to Tom Ara, the Global Chair of Media and Entertainment at DLA Piper, a leading global law firm.
According to Ara, this growing popularity is also driven by the unique perspectives and creative visions that Chinese filmmakers bring to the table, as he explained in an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN).
"The Chinese movies have started to resonate in a significant way with international audiences. And I think a lot of this has been driven by the quality of the films improving significantly due to technological advances. But also just pure advancements in the skills and the abilities of Chinese filmmakers. And of course, probably most importantly with any film, is having international appeal. So, stories and themes that resonate with international audiences in ways that bring folks into the movie theaters and put those bums in the seats," he said.
Ara emphasized that Chinese cinema stands out for its ability to tell fresh and original stories, setting it apart from other film industries like Hollywood, where stories often feel recycled.
"I think the distinction really is the telling of stories that are fresh and new. In Hollywood, the stories tend to move around in an echo chamber and we'll kind of hear the same themes and stories that have developed and eventually hit theaters. And I think when you go into the international markets and Korea is another great example, there are new stories and fresh ideas that haven't been told before that make their way to the screens. And I think that really resonates with audiences, they want to see something fresh and new and different," he said.
Ara also discussed the evolving landscape of intellectual property law, especially as it intersects with the rise of artificial intelligence in film production.
He pointed out that the legal framework surrounding AI-generated works is still unclear, with a patchwork of laws worldwide that have yet to fully address the issue.
"The state of artificial intelligence, and the intersection with artificial intelligence and the creation of copyrighted works is uncertain still. There's a patchwork of legal cases and legislation around the world that don't fully clarify what the state is at the moment. In the United States, for example, the copyright act of the United States currently mandates, and this is the interpretation by the copyright office, that works that are not created by humans are not protected under the copyright act. But there's still a lot of evolution happening, both in law and in practice," he said.
Chinese cinema's global appeal driven by improved production quality, original storytelling: expert
The United Arab Emirates' (UAE) exit from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and the broader OPEC+ is unlikely to jolt oil markets in the short term, but sets the stage for lower prices once the Iran conflict ends and Gulf exports resume, experts said.
Effective Friday, the UAE formally withdrew from OPEC in a move poised to reshape global oil markets. The decision came amid heightened geopolitical tensions driven by the ongoing Iran conflict.
The UAE Energy Minister Suhail Al Mazrouei said the timing was chosen to cause the least market disruption. But analysts say the exit reflects the UAE's long-simmering frustrations over production quotas that no longer align with its capacity.
"It gives the UAE flexibility to move from a quota within OPEC of 3.3 million barrels a day to 5 million barrels a day in 2027. It won't radically change the pricing. It will make more energy available. So, it will take some of the price pressures off," said John Defterios, senior advisor for APCO Worldwide, a global advisory firm, and also senior fellow at the Center for Energy and Materials of the World Economic Forum.
While immediate market impact remains muted amid wartime volatility, experts anticipate meaningful shifts once regional stability returns.
"It has no impact right now, because obviously oil prices right now depend on the state of the war and whether exports can start freely through the Gulf and so on. But assume, once the war is over and a normal transit resumes, I would expect the UAE will move quickly to increase production and try to refill some of that storage that was drained. And that should mean, in general, lower prices for oil importers, for oil consumers. In the longer term, yes, I think also probably it means lower prices," said Robin Mills, CEO of Qamar Energy, a Dubai-based independent consultancy company.
The UAE's departure highlights structural tensions within OPEC+. As a low-cost producer with billions invested in upstream expansion, Abu Dhabi increasingly chafed against collective quotas.
However, other members, including Iraq and Kazakhstan, also sought higher production allowances.
"This pressure has been building up for some time. But Saudi Arabia was also in a difficult position. If it agreed to grant higher production levels to the UAE, then it would have to grant them to Iraq as well. Kazakhstan wanted more [allowance as well]. Everybody wants special treatment," said Mills.
Strategically, the move aligns with the UAE's broader vision to diversify its economy.
"They made this announcement ahead of a very important forum, Make It In the Emirates, which displays what the UAE is doing in terms of diversification outside of oil and gas. So, they want that revenue from oil and gas -- the extra 50 billion dollars a year to go into greater diversification. It's advanced manufacturing, it's artificial intelligence, it's the next wave of financial services, and it is trade," said Defterios.
The exit also signals a broader recalibration of legacy energy institutions in a world confronting new climate imperatives, geopolitical fragmentation, and energy transition pressures.
"I do think it shows definitely a world in which there's a new energy reality, there's a new climate reality, there's a new geopolitical reality. And these legacy institutions have to adapt. And if they don't, then of course, their members will either leave or at least won't take them seriously," said Mills.
UAE's OPEC exit long expected, may ease oil prices after Iran war ends: experts
