Gazprom-Media Holding and Chinese film company Xicheng Media Company have announced the joint production of a war film

«All these years, we have been looking for a partner with whom we could make a major film. In Ms. Zhang Di, head of Xicheng Media, we’ve managed to find common values, complementary creative potential, and thus a sustainable interest in cooperation and joint projects. After discussion, from a long list, we chose the format of a war film. A film about the Sino-Japanese War and the Great Patriotic War. We are confident that this film will resonate with and draw interest from audiences in both China and Russia. As our Chinese friends and colleagues say, ‘a journey of a thousand li begins with a single step’. We have certainly taken that step. Our task is to create a commercially successful product. If that happens, we intend to walk a long path hand in hand, and we believe we will have many victories on this path».

«The film will depict the participation of Soviet pilots in the Sino-Japanese War of 1937–1945. During the conflict, the actions of Soviet aviators repeatedly disrupted the strategic offensives of the Japanese Armed Forces and largely prevented the defeat of the Chinese troops, dispelling the myth of Japanese invincibility».

«We are engaged in the production of a film about the Great Patriotic War and the Sino-Japanese War because these events are interesting to and certainly in demand among the Chinese audience. Moreover, all major films released in anticipation of the anniversary of the victory have also been successfully released in Russia. The film will be co-produced with Russia: part of the team consists of Russian participants, including the author of the literary script, Sergey Minaev, and part consists of Chinese filmmakers».

«We plan a large-scale production with the creation of models of vehicles and planes of the period, because much is in museums and not available for filming air battles. There will be no shortage of full-scale models of vehicles from that time. I am confident that we will be able to make a film that will be interesting not only to audiences in Russia and China but also to those who share our values and pride in victory».

«It is a great honor for me to participate in this project. I love Chinese history very much, and I have repeatedly explored their culture in my show. Many viewers may have seen my episodes about the Three Kingdoms and Confucius. I am very happy to work with our Chinese colleagues. The plot of our film unfolds in the mid-1930s, when Soviet pilots arrive in the Celestial Empire at the time of the Japanese intervention in China. The Soviet pilots help their Chinese comrades repel the aggression».