“Hotline Beijing” Premieres in Los Angeles
— A Story of Beijing’s Urban Governance Through a Hotline
LOS ANGELES- The Chinese documentary Hotline Beijing was grandly screened on September 22, 2025, at the Harmony Gold Theater in Hollywood, Los Angeles, as part of a series of promotional and cultural exchange activities. The film was produced by the China Central Newsreel and Documentary Film Studio (Group) under China Media Group, and co-produced by Beijing Gehua Media Group Co., Ltd. and Beijing Gehua Mobile Television Co., Ltd.
From Beijing to the World
Hotline Beijing takes Beijing’s “12345” citizen service hotline as its narrative thread, focusing on the innovative practice of the city’s “Responding to Complaints Immediately” reform. Through a documentary approach, the film tells how ordinary citizens’ most pressing needs are addressed, while also revealing the challenges and institutional innovations of governance in a megacity.
Since preparation began in March 2024, the production team spent ten months completing the film. They visited more than 40 relevant organizations, interviewed over a hundred staff members, and shot more than 120 locations across nine districts in Beijing. The film ultimately presents seven stories—neighborhood parking management, installing elevators in old residential buildings, the growth of hotline operators, the work of community leaders, legislative progress on the reform, international media field visits, and emergency response. Together, these stories portray how a single hotline can reshape the governance of a city with more than 20 million residents.
Chief Director Xu Jieqin noted: “Behind the 60,000 calls made each day in this metropolis of over 20 million people, how are citizens’ demands answered? What kinds of systems support this? What principles guide the design of such governance? During our research and filming, we too gained a new understanding of urban governance. The sense of awe we felt, we hope to share with audiences.”
Xu also emphasized that urban governance is a common issue worldwide. Hotline Beijing, through its plain and objective perspective and vivid, authentic stories, presents both the real challenges and institutional explorations of China’s urban governance. She expressed the hope that global audiences can “cross mountains and seas” to hear the voices of Beijing’s citizens through this film, while at the same time Chinese filmmakers can also hear the voices of audiences around the world through such exchanges.
Li Zhiqiang, Deputy Consul General of China in Los Angeles, attended the screening of the documentary Hotline Beijing and praised the film for vividly presenting Beijing’s “Respond to Every Call” reform and its people-centered approach to urban governance. He noted that film is a bridge between civilizations, fostering communication and understanding across cultural and ideological differences, and highlighted that the event built a new platform for dialogue between China and the U.S.
Li emphasized that China and the U.S., as the world’s two largest film markets, enjoy strong foundations and complementary strengths in production and talent. He called for further cooperation in co-productions, festivals, and talent exchange to deepen mutual understanding and friendship.
The event was emceed by American producer Kim Holland, who said she admired the film and believed it helps U.S. audiences better understand how initiatives like the “12345” hotline serve the daily needs of Beijing residents.
Hollywood director and founding president of the International Documentary Association, Harrison Engle, praised Hotline Beijing, noting that in his career of producing nearly 80 films, he found this work particularly impressive for its creativity and storytelling. He observed that given the stark differences between Chinese and American societies, it is hard to imagine what a “Hotline Los Angeles” would look like, which makes the film’s international significance even more valuable.
Los Angeles producer Pete Allman recalled his experience visiting China six years ago, where he was impressed by the country’s film industry, clean streets, and effective governance. He emphasized that great films are not only about story and visuals, but also about whether the overall presentation resonates with audiences. He also believes reality-based and educational works like Hotline Beijing can foster deeper exchange and understanding.
Pianist and composer John Rusnak also praised the film’s high-quality production and outstanding music, calling it both comprehensive and thought-provoking, and expressed hope for a future sequel to expand its stories further.
A People-Centered Governance Vision
The documentary not only presents specific community stories, but also showcases Beijing’s broader explorations in agile, resilient, proactive, law-based, diversified, and digital governance. By depicting the “Responding to Complaints Immediately” model, the film highlights the principle of “people-centered” governance, offering fresh insights into reshaping grassroots governance and providing lessons of value to other megacities worldwide.
As a reality-based documentary, Hotline Beijing also reflects on the relationship between public space, civic expression, and social listening in contemporary urban life. It demonstrates the unique role of documentary cinema in fostering social dialogue and embodying the spirit of the city.
International Exchange and Cultural Dialogue
The U.S. screenings aim to promote the international dissemination of Chinese documentaries, strengthen professional exchanges between Chinese and American film communities, and enhance understanding among overseas Chinese communities. By showcasing Hotline Beijing in Los Angeles and New York, the project uses film as a bridge to share China’s experiences in urban governance with global audiences, allowing more people to witness the social warmth and governance wisdom behind Beijing’s stories. The screenings are supported by the Golden Screen Awards, which joins as a partner to further promote documentary exchange and collaboration between China and the United States.
