A New York film festival canceled due to Chinese authorities pressure
8 days ago
- #Independent Film
- #Transnational Repression
- #Censorship
- Zhu Rikun planned the IndieChina Film Festival in NYC, showcasing independent Chinese films, but it was suspended due to harassment concerns.
- Participants withdrew citing 'personal reasons,' with some indicating pressure from Chinese authorities.
- Zhu protested by occupying the empty venue, watching films, and discussing them with a few filmmakers.
- Independent filmmaking in China has faced severe crackdowns since Xi Jinping's rise in 2012, leading to the shutdown of major festivals.
- Zhu's Beijing Independent Film Festival was among those banned, prompting his move to organize abroad.
- Human Rights Watch criticized China's transnational repression, highlighting efforts to control narratives about China globally.
- The Chinese government denied knowledge of the festival's specifics and dismissed Human Rights Watch's claims as biased.