Chinese drama "Back to 1942" lead a pack of films submitted by 76 countries and regions to compete in the Foreign Language Film category of the 86th Academy Awards, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences said on Monday.
Encouraged by low-budget comedy "Lost in Thailand," Chinese domestic producers have shifted their focus from blockbuster epics to real-life dramas and comedies, which has gained huge popularity among Chinese audience.
China's box office sales totaled 10.99billion yuan (1.79 billion U.S. dollars) in the first half of 2013, up 36.2 percent year on year, amid a surge in ticket sales for domestic films.
China is now the world's third-largest film producer and second-biggest film market. However, ticket sales for imported movies totaled 8.8 billion yuan, or 51.54 percent of gross ticket revenue, ending domestic films' nine-year dominance at the box office.
Drug War by Johnnie To Kei-Feung was the second surprise film completing the roster for the competition section at the Rome Film Festival, Italian media said on Monday.
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