China wants to suppress independent cinema. But young film-makers are undaunted by red lines
Unless a film is given ‘dragon seal’ approval from communist state officials, it will never be released in China
TL;DR
- Filmmaker Nan Xin runs affordable, hands-on workshops for aspiring directors in China.
- Nan's own film, 'Go Fishing,' was denied release in China for failing to align with 'core socialist values.'
- China's censorship regime, requiring a 'dragon seal' approval, has tightened significantly, impacting independent film festivals.
- The government views ideas like civil society and the public sphere as 'pernicious western liberal democratic ideas.'
- Young filmmakers are increasingly focusing on personal stories rather than societal critique.
- While students express optimism, seasoned filmmakers warn that censorship becomes a 'nightmare' for feature films.
- The authorities are generally more lenient with short films compared to feature-length productions.
- Some students, like Xu Shuai, have already experienced censorship in previous roles and seek to make films on important personal topics such as depression.