Recently, the “Transboundary Symbiosis, Mutual Learning Among Civilizations” 2025 International Short Drama Signing and Launch Ceremony, co-hosted by the Hengdian International Short Drama Alliance and Zhejiang Association of Smalland Medium Enterprises (ZASME) Film and Cultural Professional Committee,was held in Hengdian. The event gathered representatives and experts from domestic and international film and television enterprises, cultural companies, and digital technology firms to discuss the prospects and cooperation directions for the global expansion of short dramas.
Launched in October of last year, the Hengdian International Short Drama Alliance has achieved remarkable success. A single short drama produced by SpringReel, one of its member units, has surpassed 300 million global views, with revenue exceeding $10 million. ShortMax, leveraging AI technology and localized content, launches 400 new dramas every month, covering over 240 countries. The China Internet Writers Village continues to incubate super IPs, turning online literature into a creative engine for short drama content. UniVerse(Huayu) International Culture has built a global distribution network across more than 20 countries, embedding “Chinese Stories” into the international cultural context. These achievements not only demonstrate the immense global appeal of Chinese short dramas but also position them as bridges for global cultural exchange.
During the event, the Hengdian International Short Drama Alliance unveiled its 2025 international cultural and tourism short drama cooperation catalog, which includes over 20 international collaborative works spanning genres like mystery, romance, sci-fi, and comedy. This marks a further maturity of China’s short drama content system and opens up vast market opportunities for international partners.The event also featured a strategic collaboration between the Hengdian International Short Drama Alliance and Purple Wave Technology Co., Ltd.The “A.R.C” digital management system will provide critical technological support to the Alliance. AI technology will be deeply applied in various aspects of short drama production, including script creation, location scouting, costume and set design, and casting, greatly enhancing production efficiency and cost-effectiveness. This partnership ensures that the Hengdian International Short Drama Alliance continues to push technological boundaries in content creation, strengthening the global market presence and influence of Chinese short dramas.
At the same time, to address the current challenges in cross-border content export and business management within the film industry, the ZASME Film and Cultural Professional Committee, has partnered with China Digital Culture Group, Zhejiang Industrial Big Data Company, and other entities to jointly create a film and television digital supply chain platform. By leveraging digitalization in project management, personnel management, financial management, and investment and financing management, the platform aims to empower the film and cultural sectors, drive industry upgrades, and accelerate sustainable growth.
Additionally, the Hengdian International Short Drama Alliance highlighted its Global Talent Program at the event. Currently, the Alliance has attracted over 100 bilingual film and television professionals from top institutions such as New York University, the New York Film Academy, and Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University. This initiative not only injects continuous creativity into short drama production but also provides technical expertise and innovative momentum for the global film and television industry. By integrating technology with hands-on training, Hengdian is building an international short drama creative ecosystem, ensuring a steady flow of fresh ideas to sustain industry growth.
Guo Shu, General Manager of the International Business Department at Hengdian World Studios, one of the Alliance’s key initiators, emphasized that the rapid globalization of short dramas relies on deep collaboration across the industry chain. The Hengdian International Short Drama Alliance will continue to enhance technological applications, promote the integration of film and cultural tourism, refine its talent development system, and explore new collaborative opportunities with global partners. She also stressed that short dramas are not just vehicles for cultural exchange but should also serve as engines of industrial innovation and economic growth.
Zhou Fenglai, Head of the Vertical Short Drama Operations Center at Hengdian Film and Television Services Co.,Ltd, shared Hengdian’s unique advantages in supporting short drama productions. Hengdian not only offers a diverse and professional range of filming locations but also provides access to a fully developed film and television industry ecosystem. To further support the vertical short drama sector, Hengdian has introduced special incentives, including significant cost reductions for production teams filming in Hengdian. These initiatives reinforce Hengdian’s commitment to becoming the leading production hub for high-quality short dramas in China and worldwide.
The event also featured insights from Dennis Chau, Chief Operating Officer of Korean short drama platform Reel-K, former Vice President of Disney Asia-Pacific, and former Dubbing Director of Netflix Asia-Pacific. Dennis noted, “Chinese short dramas are sweeping across the globe, demonstrating enormous market potential. We look forward to collaborating with China to explore the international market further.”Jooick Lee, CEO of Reel-K and a renowned Korean film producer, also expressed strong interest in deepening cooperation with Hengdian. He emphasized that “Korea’s success in the film and television industry is built on strong storytelling and precise market positioning. We hope to work with Hengdian to make short dramas a key medium for cultural exchange between China and Korea.”
Looking ahead, the Hengdian International Short Drama Alliance will advance its “Three Ones” strategic vision, driving global cooperation and cultural exchange: “10 Countries, 10 Stories”–Expanding the international short drama landscape to more regions, deepening global audiences’understanding and emotional connection with Chinese stories.“100 City IPs, 100 Cultural Landmarks”–Bridging cultures worldwide through film and television, integrating cultural tourism with short dramas to fuel new industry growth.“1,000 Global Talents, 1,000 Sparks of Creativity”–Building a diverse and dynamic international creative ecosystem, ensuring a continuous stream of innovation and talent for the short drama industry.
The announcement of the “Ten Countries, One Hundred Cities Revitalized, One Thousand People Co-Creating”initiative marks a significant milestone in the global expansion of the Hengdian International Short Drama Alliance. From content production to cultural dialogue, technological innovation to talent development, Hengdian is spearheading a new era for short dramas with a global perspective.