Welcome to Alchemist Films – Your Gateway to Documentary Adventure in Shanghai and Beyond

Hello, documentary lovers, visual storytellers, and creative collaborators around the globe!

We’re Alchemist Films – a Shanghai-based production company dedicated to transforming powerful ideas into unforgettable documentaries. Since our founding in 1993, we’ve been crafting bold, thought-provoking films that cross borders, challenge perspectives, and celebrate the rich complexity of human stories.

Whether you’re a producer looking for a fixer in China, a director dreaming of filming in Asia, or a brand ready to create something with purpose – we’re your crew on the ground.

🎥 Our Mission: Lights, Camera, Collaboration!

We’re not just filmmakers. We’re cultural translators, logistical problem-solvers, and passionate collaborators. Our mission is to be the bridge between bold stories and the audiences who need to hear them, connecting global creatives with the resources, insights, and access they need to tell authentic stories in China – especially in our home base, Shanghai.

We don’t just shoot. We research, plan, facilitate, translate, and co-create – with an energy that’s equal parts strategic and wildly passionate.

🌇 Why Shanghai?

Shanghai isn’t just a city – it’s a living, breathing character.

With its ever-shifting skyline, colonial architecture, neon-lit alleyways, vibrant local cultures, and deep historical layers, Shanghai is one of the most cinematic and logistically accessible cities in China. It’s the perfect launchpad for stories that blend East and West, tradition and innovation, past and future.

At Alchemist Films, we’ve helped international teams capture everything from fashion shoots in the French Concession to social issue documentaries in industrial suburbs. Whatever your story, we know how to navigate Shanghai’s visual landscape and bureaucratic maze to make it happen smoothly.

🔧 Shooting in Shanghai: What You Need to Know

Thinking of filming here? Here’s how we help you make it seamless:

✅ Permits & Local Access

Shooting in Shanghai can be smooth – if you know the right doors to knock on. We handle:

Film permits (including drone permissions)
Location scouting and booking
On-set support and local liaisons
Negotiations with public or private venue owners

🎬 Crew & Equipment

We work with bilingual, world-class crews who understand both international production standards and local working styles. Need top-tier cameras, gaffers, or motion-control gear? We’ve got access to:

Arri, RED, Sony FX, Canon C-series kits
Aputure and ARRI lighting
Grip trucks, drones, gimbals, and more

👥 Casting & Contributors

Looking for authentic characters, real people, or actors for re-enactments? Our team supports:

Street casting
Coordination with NGOs or institutions
Interview planning and translation
Sensitive issue advisory and cultural mediation

🌏 International Collaboration – Made Easy

Working across borders can be daunting. That’s where we come in.

We’ve supported productions from the US, UK, Germany, Australia, Singapore, and beyond. Whether you’re flying in a small team or managing a remote shoot from your home office, we can handle:

Pre-production coordination and budgeting
Visa and customs consultation
Travel, accommodations, COVID protocols (if still required)
Remote viewing setups for real-time direction

We’re used to dealing with multi-time zone workflows, ensuring everyone stays on the same page. Your production feels local and global, all at once.

🧪 What’s in Our Filmmaking Cauldron?

🎭 Cultural & Policy-Focused Content

We thrive in the intersection of art, society, and policy. Our background includes:

Academic collaborations with universities and think tanks
Documentaries exploring Chinese urbanization, aging, education, and heritage
Social impact storytelling with NGOs and global foundations

✈️ Training, Exchange & Co-Production

We regularly host and participate in:

Filmmaking workshops
Artist exchange programs
International doc forums and symposiums
We’re excited to co-develop stories, not just shoot them.

🌍 Translation & Localization

Bringing your film to China or taking your Chinese story to the world? We can handle:

Subtitling & localization
Voiceover casting
Cross-cultural adaptation & distribution planning

📱 Hang with Us Online

Stay in the loop with our latest projects, BTS stories, and upcoming screenings.
Shoot us an email to join our network of filmmakers, journalists, and change-makers.

🎉 Let’s Embark on This Journey Together

Whether you’re developing a gritty urban doc, an uplifting human interest story, or a multi-country brand film, Shanghai is a dynamic canvas – and Alchemist Films is your trusted local partner.

So bring your vision. Bring your voice. Bring your sense of adventure.
Let’s create something that speaks across borders and lives far beyond the screen.

🎬 Alchemist Films – Shanghai-born. Globally minded. Story-obsessed.