Law of the People's Republic of China on the Promotion of the Film Industry

　　Order of the President of the People's Republic of China No. 54

　　November 7, 2016

　　The Law of the People's Republic of China on the Promotion of the Film Industry, adopted at the 24th Session of the Standing Committee of the 12th National People's Congress on November 7, 2016, is hereby promulgated and shall come into force as of March 1, 2017.

　　Xi Jinping, President of the People's Republic of China

　　Law of the People's Republic of China on the Promotion of the Film Industry

　　(Adopted at the 24th Session of the Standing Committee of the 12th National People's Congress on November 7, 2016)

　　Table of Contents
　　Chapter I General Provisions
　　Chapter II Film Creation and Production
　　Chapter III Film Distribution and Screening
　　Chapter IV Support and Protection of the Film Industry
　　Chapter V Legal Liability
　　Chapter VI Supplementary Provisions

　　Chapter I General Provisions

　　Article 1 This Law is enacted in order to promote the healthy and prosperous development of the film industry, promote socialist core values, regulate the order of the film market and enrich the spiritual and cultural life of the general public.

　　Article 2 This Law shall apply to the creation, filming, distribution, screening of films and other related activities (hereinafter collectively referred to as the "film activities") within the territory of the People's Republic of China.
　　For the purpose of this Law, "films" refer to works produced utilizing audio-visual technologies and artistic means, recorded on photographic films or digital carriers, composed of sequential images with or without sound expressing a certain content, complying with the technological standards set by the state, and publicly screened at cinemas and other fixed venues or on mobile cinema screening equipment.
　　Where film are transmitted via information networks such as the Internet, telecommunications networks, and radio and television networks, the laws and administrative regulations on the administration of such information networks shall also apply.

　　Article 3 Film activities shall be conducted under the principles of insisting on service to the people and service to socialism, prioritizing social benefits, and achieving the integration of social benefits and economic benefits.

　　Article 4 The state upholds a people-oriented direction of creation, follow the guideline of promoting diversity, respect and protect the freedom of film creation, advocate film creation to be close to reality, life and the people, and encourages the development of good films that integrate thought, artistry, and entertainment.

　　Article 5 The State Council shall incorporate the development of the film industry in the national economic and social development plan. Local people's governments at or above the county level shall incorporate the development of the film industry in their national economic and social development plans of the corresponding level in light of actual local conditions.
　　The State shall develop policies for the film and its related industries to guide the formation of a common and open film market with fair competition and promote the prosperity and development of the film market.

　　Article 6 The state shall encourage the research and development and application of film technologies, set and improve technical standards for films, and establish a film technology innovation system that is business-centered and market-oriented and integrates industry, education and research.

　　Article 7 Film-related intellectual property ("IP") rights shall be protected by laws and no organization or individual may infringe such rights.
　　IP law enforcement departments of people's governments at or above the county level shall take measures to protect film-related IP rights, and investigate and deal with acts of infringement of film-related IP rights in accordance with the law.
　　Citizens, legal persons, and other organizations engaged in film activities shall raise their awareness on IP rights, and enhance their ability to use, protect and manage IP rights.
　　The state encourages citizens, legal persons and other organizations to legally develop film character-based products and other derivative products.

　　Article 8 The film authority under the State Council shall be in charge of the nationwide film work; the film authority under local people's governments at or above the county level shall be in charge of the film work within their respective jurisdictions.
　　Other relevant departments of people's governments at or above the county level shall be in charge of film-related work within the scope of their respective duties.

　　Article 9 Film industry organizations shall, in accordance with the law, develop the industry's self-regulation standards, carry out business exchange, enhance education on professional ethics, and protect the lawful rights and interests of their members.
　　Actors and actresses, directors and other film practitioners shall strive to excel in both moral integrity and professional ability, observe laws and regulations, respect social morality, abide by professional ethics, strengthen self-discipline, and set up and maintain a good public image.

　　Article 10 The state shall support the establishment of a film rating system and encourage film criticism.
　　Organizations and individuals that have made outstanding contributions to the development of good films and the promotion of the development of the film industry shall be commended and awarded pursuant to relevant regulations of the state.

　　Article 11 The state shall encourage international film cooperation and exchange on the basis of equal standing and mutual benefits and support participation in overseas film festivals (exhibitions).

　　Chapter II Film Creation and Production

　　Article 12 The state shall encourage the creation of film scripts and innovations such as in themes, genres, forms and methods and encourage academic discussions on films and film business exchanges.
　　The film authorities of people's governments at or above the county level shall, based on the need for film creation, provide film creators with necessary convenience and help to reach the grassroots level, be among the common people and acquire life experience.

　　Article 13 A legal person or any other organization that intends to produce a film shall file the synopsis of the film script for the record with the film authority under the State Council or the film authority of the people's government of the province, autonomous region or municipality directly under the Central Government as applicable; and the script of a film involving any major theme or any materials relating to national security, foreign affairs, ethnicity, religion, military affairs, and other matters shall be submitted for review and approval as required by relevant regulations of the state.
　　If the synopsis of a film script or a film script conforms to Article 16 of this Law, the film authority under the State Council shall make an announcement of the basic information of the film to be produced, and the film authority under the State Council or the film authority of the people's government of the province, autonomous region or municipality directly under the Central Government as applicable, shall issue a record-filing certification or an approval document. The specific measures in this respect shall be formulated by the film authority under the State Council.

　　Article 14 As approved by the film authority under the State Council, legal persons and other organizations may cooperate with overseas organizations on film production, but shall not cooperate with any overseas organization engaged in activities that are harmful to the national dignity, honor or interests, endanger the social stability, or hurt the national feelings of the country, and shall not employ any individual who is involved the above-mentioned activities to participate in film production.
　　If a film produced through international cooperation meets the ratio requirements in respect of creative development, investment, income distribution, and other areas, the film shall be deemed as equivalent to a domestic film produced by a domestic legal person or any other organization.
　　Overseas organizations may not engage in film production activities independently within China; and foreign individuals may not engage in film production activities individually within China.

　　Article 15 The film authorities under people's governments at the county or above level shall coordinate with public security, heritage conservation, tourist site management, and other departments in providing necessary convenience and assistance to legal persons and other organizations legally engaged in film production activities pursuant to this Law.
　　Film production activities shall be conducted in compliance with the laws and regulations on environmental protection, heritage conservation, tourist site management, and work safety and have necessary protection and safeguard measures in place in the course of film production.

　　Article 16 A film shall not include any contents:
　　1. violating basic principles stipulated in the Constitution, or instigating the resistance or destruction of the implementation of the Constitution, laws and administrative laws;
　　2. harming national unity or sovereignty and territorial integrity, disclosing any state secret, endangering national security, damaging national dignity, honor or interests, or publicizing terrorism or extremism;
　　3. denigrating excellent national cultural traditions, inciting national hatred or ethnic discrimination, damaging ethnic customs, distorting national history or any national historical figure, hurting national sentiments, or undermining national unity;
　　4. inciting the destruction of any national religious policy, or publicizing heresy or superstition;
　　5. damaging social morality, disturbing social order, destroying social stability, publicizing obscenity, gambling or drug taking, rendering violence or terror, instigating a crime or imparting a criminal method;
　　6. infringing the legitimate rights and interests of any juvenile or damaging the physical and psychological health of juveniles;
　　7. insulting or slandering others or spreading any private matters of others, or infringing the legitimate rights and interests of others; or
　　8. other contents forbidden by laws and administrative regulations.

　　Article 17 A legal person or other organization shall submit a shot film to the film authority under the State Council or the film authority under the people's government of a province, autonomous region or municipality directly under the Central Government for examination.
　　The film authority under the State Council or the film authority under the people's government of a province, autonomous region or municipality directly under the Central Government shall make an examination decision within 30 days after accepting an application. If a film conforms to this Law, it shall be allowed to be released, a film release license shall be issued, and the film shall be announced; if a film does not conform to this Law, it shall not be allowed to be released, and a written notice shall be issued to the applicant with relevant reasons given.
　　The film authority under the State Council shall formulate and improve specific standards and procedures of film examination according to this Law, and publish them to society. Specific standards of film examination formulated and improved shall be published to society to seek opinions, and experts shall be organized for demonstration.

　　Article 18 At least five experts shall be organized to conduct film examinations and give examination opinions. If a legal person or any other organization objects to the examination opinions of experts, the film authority under the State Council or the film authority under the people's government of a province, autonomous region or municipality directly under the Central Government may otherwise organize experts to conduct examinations again. Examination opinions of experts shall be taken as important bases for an examination decision.
　　The examination experts above mentioned include experts in the expert library and experts specially engaged as per a film theme. Specific measures on the selection of experts and examinations shall be formulated by the film authority under the State Council.

　　Article 19 If any content of a film with a film release license already issued needs to be changed, the film shall be submitted again for examination pursuant to this Law.

　　Article 20 Legal persons and other organizations producing films shall place the film release license at the opening part of films; if a film projected may result in any physical or psychological discomfort of the audience such as juveniles, a reminder shall be given.
　　A film with no film release license obtained yet shall not be distributed or projected, be spread via information networks such as the Internet, telecom networks and broadcast networks, or be produced as any audio-visual product; if the state has any other provisions, such provisions shall prevail.

　　Article 21 Only after the film release license is obtained can a shot film participate in a film festival (exhibition). A legal person or any other organization intending to participate in an overseas film festival (exhibition) should submit relevant materials for filing with the film authority under the State Council or the film authority under the people's government of a province, autonomous region or municipality directly under the Central Government, before the holding of the said overseas film festival (exhibition).

　　Article 22 Citizens, legal persons and other organizations may undertake the business of developing, processing, post production and so on of overseas films and shall file such business with the film authority under the people's government of a province, autonomous region or municipality directly under the Central Government, but shall not undertake any business relating to a film with contents damaging the national dignity, honor or interests of China, harming social stability, hurting national sentiments and so on.

　　Article 23 Film archive institutions established by the state shall receive, collect, sort out and keep film archives and make them available to society.
　　Film archive institutions established by the state shall have the necessary equipment and adopt advanced technologies to enhance the level of the modern management of film archives.
　　Legal persons and other organizations producing films shall keep film archives well in accordance with the Archives Law of the People's Republic of China, and transfer, donate and deposit film archives to the film archive institutions established by the state.

　　Chapter III Film Distribution and Screening

　　Article 24 Upon approval by the film authority under the State Council or the film authority under the people's government of a province, autonomous region or municipality directly under the Central Government, an enterprise with personnel and capital conditions adaptive to film distribution activities may conduct film distribution activities.
　　Upon approval by the film authority under the local people's government at the county or above level or above, an enterprise or individual business with personnel, site, technological and equipment conditions and so on adaptable to film screening activities may conduct film screening activities at a fixed project site such as cinemas.

　　Article 25 The film authority in charge of the examination and approval of film distribution and screening activities pursuant to this Law shall make a decision of approval or disapproval within 30 days after accepting an application. If an enterprise or individual meets the conditions, the application shall be approved, a film distribution license or film release license shall be issued, and the enterprise or individual shall be announced; if not, the application will not be approved, and a written notice will be issued to the applicant with relevant reasons given.

　　Article 26 An enterprise or individual engaged in mobile cinema screening activities shall file the corporate name or name of the relevant operator, address, contact information, projection equipment and so on with the film authority under the people's government at the county or above level or above of the location of the operation region.

　　Article 27 The state shall increase support for rural cinema screenings, establish and improve a nonprofit rural cinema screening service network funded by the government, actively guide private capital to invest in rural cinema screenings, keep improving the film-viewing conditions in rural areas, and coordinate and ensure efforts to meet the film-viewing need of the rural population.
　　The people's governments at the county or above level shall incorporate rural cinema screenings in the building of rural areas' public cultural service system, and offer subsidies for nonprofit rural cinema screening activities pursuant to the regulations of the state.
　　Anyone engaged in nonprofit rural cinema screening activities shall not claim by misrepresentation, impersonation of others, and other fraudulent means the subsidies for nonprofit rural cinema screenings.

　　Article 28 The competent department for education and the film authority under the State Council may jointly recommend films favorable for the healthy growth of juveniles, and take measures to support students receiving compulsory education to watch such films free of charge which shall be organized and arranged for by their schools.
　　The state shall encourage cinemas and enterprises and individuals engaged in mobile cinema screening activities to take several measures such as providing preferential ticket prices, constructing screening rooms with different conditions and establishing communal film screening points in a bid to provide convenience for watching films by minors, the elderly, the disabled, urban low-income residents, migrant workers and so on; local people's governments may offer incentive subsidies to cinemas and enterprises and individuals engaged in mobile cinema screening activities.

　　Article 29 Cinemas shall reasonably arrange the number and time of the screening of films produced by domestic legal persons or other organizations, and the length of the total screening time shall not be less than two thirds of the total length of the annual film screening time.
　　Cinemas and enterprises and individuals engaged in mobile cinema screening activities shall ensure film screening quality.

　　Article 30 Facilities and equipment in cinemas and the equipment used for mobile cinema screenings shall conform to national standards on film screening technologies.
　　Cinemas shall install a computer ticketing system pursuant to the relevant regulations of the state.

　　Article 31 No one may make any audio or video recording of a film being screened with permission of its right holder. Employees of a cinema shall have the right to stop anyone discovered to be making such audio or video recording and demand him to delete the recording and may order him to leave the cinema if the person refuses to comply.

　　Article 32 The state shall encourage cinemas to screen public service advertisements before the explicitly indicated start time of the screening of a film.
　　Cinemas may not screen advertisements between the explicitly indicated start time of the screening of a film and the end time of the screening of the same film.

　　Article 33 Cinemas shall comply with the laws and administrative regulations on public security, fire control, and hygiene in public places, maintain public order and environmental health in their film screening premises, and protect the safety and health of the audience.
　　No one may carry any explosive, inflammable, radioactive, toxic or corrosive item, or illegally carry any gun, ammunition or controlled device into cinemas or other film screening sites; if a person is found to be carrying any of the aforesaid items, the relevant personnel shall deny the person's entry and notify the relevant department of the case.

　　Article 34 Film distribution enterprises and cinemas etc. shall calculate film sales revenue in a truthful way and provide authentic and accurate statistical data, and shall not cheat or mislead the audience or disturb the film market order by any illegal means such as conducting any fraudulent transaction or making a false report of or concealing any sales revenue.

　　Article 35 The organization of a foreign-related film festival (exhibition) within China shall be approved by the film authority under the State Council or the film authority under the people's government of a province, autonomous region or municipality directly under the Central Government.

　　Chapter IV Support and Guarantees for the Film Industry

　　Article 36 The state shall support the creation and production of the following films:
　　1. films with important themes disseminating splendid Chinese culture and carrying forward socialist core values;
　　2. films promoting the healthy growth of juveniles;
　　3. films presenting art innovations and promoting artistic progress;
　　4. films impelling the development of scientific and educational causes and the popularization of sciences and technologies; and
　　5. other films conforming to policies on support by the state.

　　Article 37 The state shall guide the special capital and funds in the relevant cultural industries to intensify investments in the film industry. Fiscal capital shall be comprehensively considered and generally arranged for the support given to the film industry, according to the development of the said industry in different phases and times and in combination with the financial position and economic and social development demands. And the use of relevant capital and funds shall be audited in a strengthened manner.

　　Article 38 The state shall implement necessary preferential tax policies to boost the development of the film industry, with specific measures to be formulated by the competent financial and tax departments under the State Council as per tax laws and administrative regulations.

　　Article 39 The local people's governments at the county or above level shall, according to the demand of the masses and the development needs of the film market, include the construction and transformation of cinemas in the national economic and social development plan, the general plan on land use, urban and rural plan and so on.
　　The local people's governments at the county or above level shall, as per the relevant provisions of the state, effectively guarantee the land demand of cinemas, actively liquidize land resources for cinemas, and support the construction and renovation of cinemas.

　　Article 40 The state shall encourage financial institutions to provide financing services for film activities and the improvement of film infrastructures, lawfully conduct the pledge financing business of film-related IP rights, and support the development of the film industry by means of credit and loan or otherwise.
　　The state shall encourage insurance institutions to legally develop insurance products meeting the development need of the film industry.
　　The state shall encourage financing guarantee institutions to legally provide financing guarantees for the film industry, and diffuse risks by means of re-guarantee, joint guarantee, combination of guarantee and insurance or otherwise.
　　For the production of a film announced by the film authority under the State Council pursuant to this Law, the loan period and interest rate shall be determined reasonably pursuant to relevant regulations of the state.

　　Article 41 The state shall encourage legal persons and other organizations to make cross-border investments by means of overseas cooperation on film production or otherwise, and ensure their reasonable currency exchange need for foreign trade, cross-border financing and investment and other related activities are met in accordance with the law.

　　Article 42 The state shall implement a film talent support plan.
　　The state shall support qualified institutions of higher education, secondary vocational schools, other educational institutions and training institutions to set up film-related majors and courses, and adopt various means to train talents to meet the development need of the film industry.
　　The state shall encourage legal persons and other organizations engaged in film activities to participate in relevant school talent training programs.

　　Article 43 The state shall take measures to support rural areas, border areas, poverty-stricken areas and ethnic minority areas to carry out film activities.
　　The state shall encourage and support development of films with ethnic minority subjects, step up the translation of films into ethnic minority languages, and coordinate and ensure efforts to meet the film-viewing need of people in ethnic minority areas.

　　Article 44 The state shall support the foreign language translation of good films, and carry out overseas film promotion activities by makes comprehensive use of diplomatic, cultural, educational, and other foreign exchange resources.
　　The state shall encourage citizens, legal persons and other organizations to engage in overseas film promotion activities.

　　Article 45 The state shall encourage private sectors to support the development of the film industry by way of donations, funding or otherwise, and provide preferential policies for such support in accordance with the law.

　　Article 46 The film authorities under the people's governments at the county or above level shall step up the routine supervision and administration of film activities, receive complaints and reports of practices that violate this Law and timely verify and deal with the same and make replies; and shall enter the administrative penalties imposed on entities and individuals due to violation of this Law in the credit records of such entities and individuals, and disclose the same to society.

　　Chapter V Legal Liability

　　Article 47 If any enterprise or individual engages in film production, distribution or screening activities in violation of this Law, the relevant film authority under the people's government at the county or above level shall ban the enterprise or individual from such activity , and seize the relevant film, illegal gains and special tools and equipment used for the illegal activity; if the illegal gains exceed CNY50,000, a penalty of more than five times but less than ten times the illegal gains will be imposed concurrently; if there are no illegal gains or the illegal gains are less than CNY50,000, a penalty of up to CNY250,000 may be imposed concurrently.

　　Article 48 In any of the following circumstances, the original license-issuing authority shall revoke the relevant license, approval or certification; the relevant film authority under the people's government at the county or above level or above shall seize the relevant illegal gains; if the illegal gains exceed CNY50,000, a penalty of more than five times but less than ten times the illegal gains will be imposed concurrently; if there are no illegal gains or the illegal gains are less than CNY50,000, a penalty of up to CNY250,000 may be imposed concurrently:
　　1. fabricating, altering, leasing, renting or selling or illegally transferring in any other way any license, approval or certification stipulated hereunder;
　　2. obtaining any license, approval or certification stipulated hereunder by any improper means such as cheating or bribery.

　　Article 49 In any of the following circumstances, the original license-issuing authority shall revoke the relevant license; the relevant film authority under the people's government at the county or above level or above shall seize the relevant film and illegal gains; if the illegal gains exceed CNY50,000, a penalty of more than ten times but less than 20 times the illegal gains will be imposed concurrently; if there are no illegal gains or the illegal gains are less than CNY50,000, a penalty of up to CNY500,000 may be imposed concurrently:
　　1. distributing or projecting any film with no film release license obtained yet;
　　2. altering any content of a film with a film release license already obtained, or arbitrarily distributing, projecting or submitting for exhibition any film with a film release license not obtained again as per the provisions; and
　　3. providing any film with no film release license obtained yet to participate in any film festival (exhibition).

　　Article 50 If any enterprise or individual undertakes the business of developing, processing or post production, etc. of any overseas film damaging the national dignity, honor or interests of China, harming social stability, hurting ethnic sentiments, etc., the relevant film authority under the people's government at the county or above level or above shall order the said enterprise or individual to stop such illegal activity, and seize the relevant film and illegal gains; if the illegal gains exceed CNY50,000, a penalty of more than three times but less than five times the illegal gains will be imposed concurrently; if there are no illegal gains or the illegal gains are less than CNY50,000, a penalty of up to CNY150,000 may be imposed concurrently. If the circumstance is serious, the film authority concerned shall report the matter to the relevant administration for industry and commerce, which shall revoke the business license of the relevant enterprise or individual.

　　Article 51 If any film distribution enterprise or cinema etc. engages in acts, such as making false deals and making a false or misleading report of sales revenue, which disturbs the film market order, the relevant film authority under the people's government at the county or above level or above shall order rectification, seize illegal gains, and impose a penalty of more than CNY50,000 but less than CNY500,000; where the illegal gains are higher than CNY500,000, a fine of no less than one but no more than five times the illegal gains shall be imposed. If the circumstance is serious, the relevant film authority shall order the enterprise or cinema to stop business for internal rectification; if the circumstance is especially serious, the relevant original license-issuing authority shall revoke the relevant license.
　　If a cinema projects an advertisement from the start time of projection of a film as explicitly announced to the audience to the end of the projection of the film, the film authority under the people's government at the county or above level or above shall give it a warning and order it to make corrections; if the circumstance is serious, a penalty of between CNY10,000 and CNY50,000 shall be imposed.

　　Article 52 If any legal person or other organization organizes any foreign-related film festival (exhibition) in China without permission, the film authority under the State Council or relevant film authority under the people's government of a province, autonomous region or municipality directly under the Central Government shall order it to stop such illegal activity, and seize the films participating in the festival (exhibition) and any illegal gains; if the illegal gains exceed CNY50,000, a penalty of more than five times but less than ten times the illegal gains will be imposed concurrently; if there are no illegal gains or the illegal gains are less than CNY50,000, a penalty of up to CNY250,000 may be imposed concurrently; if the circumstance is serious, the said legal person or the other organization shall not organize any foreign-related film festival (exhibition) within five years from the date of imposition of penalty.
　　If any individual organizes any foreign-related film festival (exhibition) within China without permission or provides any film that has not been granted a film release license to participate in any film festival (exhibition), the film authority under the State Council or relevant film authority under the people's government of a province, autonomous region or municipality directly under the Central Government shall order the person to stop such illegal activity, and seize any films participating in the festival (exhibition) and any illegal gains; if the illegal gains exceed CNY50,000, a penalty of more than five times but less than ten times the illegal gains will be imposed concurrently; if there are no illegal gains or the illegal gains are less than CNY50,000, a penalty of up to CNY250,000 may be imposed concurrently; if the circumstance is serious, the said individual shall not conduct any film-related activity within five years from the date of imposition of penalty.

　　Article 53 If any legal person, other organization or individual business has its license revoked due to violation of this Law, the said legal person, other organization or individual business shall not engage in the business activity concerned within five years from the date of revocation of the license; and its legal representative or chief person-in-charge shall not act as the legal representative or chief person-in-charge of any legal person or other organization engaged in film activities within five years from the date of revocation of the license.

　　Article 54 Whoever that is involved in any of the following circumstances shall be subject to penalty in accordance with the relevant laws, administrative regulations or provisions of the state:
　　1. manufacturing, without authorization, any audio or visual product of a film which has not been granted a film release license, in violation of the relevant provisions of the state;
　　2. transmitting any film which has not been granted a film release license via the Internet, telecommunications networks, radio or television networks or other information networks, in violation of the relevant provisions of the state;
　　3. obtaining by misrepresentation, impersonation of others or other fraudulent means the subsidies for nonprofit rural cinema screenings;
　　4. infringing any film-related IP rights; or
　　5. failing to receive, collect, organize, retain or transfer film files as required by law.
　　Where a cinema commits an act stated in above sub-paragraph 4 and the circumstances of the case are serious, the license of the cinema shall be revoked by its original license-issuing authority.

　　Article 55 If an employee of the film authority under a people's government at the county or above level or of any other relevant department is involved in any of the following circumstances but the case does not yet constitute a crime, the employee shall be subject to disciplinary sanctions in accordance with the law:
　　1. profiting from serving in office by accepting an item of value or other benefits from others;
　　2. conducting any examination and approval activity in violation of this Law;
　　3. failing to perform a supervisory duty;
　　4. failing to investigate or deal with any illegality;
　　5. embezzling, misappropriating, intercepting or under-providing the subsidies for rural non-profit cinema screenings or relevant special funds; and
　　6. other circumstances of abuse of power, negligence of duty, or malpractice for personal gain in violation of this Law.

　　Article 56 Whoever violates this Law and thereby causes any personal or property damage shall bear civil liability in accordance with the law; and shall be subject to criminal liability in accordance with the law if the violation constitutes a crime.
　　Where anyone that has been subject to administrative penalty twice or more times due to violation of this Law within two years commits another illegality that shall be punished according to this Law, a severer punishment shall apply.

　　Article 57 The film authorities under the people's governments at the county or above level and their employees shall exercise their right to impose administrative penalty on the basis of the nature and material circumstances of an illegal act and strictly in accordance with the types and ranges of penalty provided for in the Law, and the specific measures in this respect shall be formulated by the film authority under the State Council.
　　When the film authority under a people's government at the county or above level investigates and deals with an act in violation of this Law as proved by evidence, it may seal up the site or facility relating to such illegal act or seize or detain any property used for such illegal act.

　　Article 58 If a party objects to an administrative act carried out by the film authority under a people's government at the county or above level or any other relevant department pursuant to this Law, the party may legally apply for administrative reconsideration or file an administrative lawsuit. If the objection relates to the decision of not granting a film release license made by the film authority under the State Council, the party shall first legally apply for administrative reconsideration, and then may file an administrative lawsuit if unsatisfied with the administrative reconsideration result.

　　Chapter VI Supplementary Provisions

　　Article 59 If any overseas capital is used to establish an enterprise engaged in film activities in the People's Republic of China, the relevant regulations of the state shall apply

　　Article 60 This Law shall come into force as of March 1, 2017.