YIDFF 2017 Encore Screenings Part 12: Film Censorship in China and Indonesia

Screenings at the Yamagata Documentary Film Library present documentaries and movies rarely shown on television or in theaters, including works from the Film Library vaults.

A Filmless Festival　14:00-、19:00-（screens twice）

A Filmless Festival

YIDFF 2017 New Asian Currents Special Invitation Film

Dir: Wang Wo / CHINA / 2015 / 80 min

●notes

In 2014, the authorities shut down a film festival in Beijing immediately before it was to open. The film captures this tense time, including interference by plainclothes police officers posing as villagers, a search of the film festival office, and staff taken in for interrogation. Footage shot by many participating hands documents the private screenings and discussions held by directors and guests at the houses of Songzhuang artists, and the festival’s “closing ceremony,” in which people expressed their solidarity by posting pictures on social media of themselves with their eyes closed. The film becomes witness to what really happened.

 

A Filmless Festival

●Director’s Statement

In August 2014, authorities brought the 11th Beijing Independent Film Festival to a halt. During this time, many of the guests as well as audience members and volunteer staff committed the period that followed the shut-down to video. The footage was collected and preserved as a record of the incident, and edited together into this film. The Beijing Independent Film Festival was a rare and crucial independent film festival. In recent years, non-governmental film festivals in China have been halted in succession, and since the shut down of this one, virtually none are left. Things have gone back to as they were more than ten years ago. The situation is regressing, no matter how one looks at it. Because of this, it was necessary to leave a record for posterity. The video and audio materials used in this work were all supplied by audience members, local artists, directors and guests participating in the film festival, staff, volunteers, reporters, and the media. This film was created through a group collaborative effort.

Wang Wo

 

Cuts　16:00-（single screening）

Cuts

YIDFF 2017 New Asian Currents Special Invitation Film

Dir: Chairun Nissa / INDONESIA / 2016 / 64 min

●notes

The film follows a director (Edwin) and his producer as they submit their film Blind Pig Who Wants to Fly to the Censorship Board as required by Indonesian law. They do so in part to document the censorship process. The film inquires into the current state of film production and screening in Indonesia as it records internal processes that include film and document submission, test screening with board members, meetings, amendments necessary for resubmission, testimony, and the personal opinions of the board members and government officials. All the while, the film also becomes a space for dialogue with independent filmmakers who continue to question this system of censorship.

 

Cuts

●Director’s Statement

Cuts is a film that deals with the fundamental elements of human rights. It’s ironic that when directors are mature enough to take a stand and talk about the problems faced by Indonesians they meet rejection from the Indonesian Film Censorship Board (LSF). The newest program being promoted by the LSF is one of “self-censorship,” which further solidifies the losses suffered not only by filmmakers, but also by the film community and the general public. We must wonder if the LSF will ever evolve as an agency, to keep pace with developments of the nation and of humanity itself.

Chairun Nissa

 

[Venue]The YAMAGATA Documentary Film Library (Yamagata Big Wing 3F)
[Admission]Free admission for members (Member’s fee: free)
[Presented by]YIDFF (NPO)
[Contact]e-mail：info@yidff.jp (YIDFF Yamagata office)