Wu Yanfang and Zhou Chuanyi, in the “Journal of Shanghai University (Social Sciences Edition)” Issue 2 of 2025, note that film geography emerged in the mid-to-late 1980s. Since then, it has accumulated a substantial body of literature, including monographs, collections of papers, as well as review articles. It has also developed into an emerging sub-discipline, primarily based in Western countries, focusing on the geographical characteristics of the cinematic medium. This sub-discipline primarily explores the representations of space, place, and landscape in films, as well as the related discourses of gender culture and geopolitics. It also examines the economic structures in the production and consumption processes of films and their relationship with geographical realities.
In China, the interdisciplinary study of film and geography has progressed almost in tandem with the West. However, the research areas differ significantly and exhibit a certain degree of autonomy and uniqueness. In the current context of civilizational exchange and mutual learning, these differences present more opportunities for integration and interaction.