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Filmmakers Worry Hong Kong Film Censors Will Stifle Expression

Tommy Walker

   BANGKOK - Filmmakers are raising concerns about new guidelines forHong
   Kong's film censorthatinstruct them toban movies deemed
   endangeringnational security.

   Last week, the Hong Kong governmentannounced thatamendments to the
   territory's Film Censorship Ordinance could result in movies being
   banned as part of the Beijing-imposed national security law.

   The government statement said it is the "duty" of the Hong Kong Special
   Administrative Region ([1]HKSAR) to "safeguard national security" and
   that "censors must abide by these provisions."

   Local and international filmmakers who have worked in Hong Kongsaid the
   changes could hurt the city's film industry.

   AmericanJoePiscatella,who directed"Joshua: Teenager vs.Superpower,"a
   documentary aboutHong Kongteenageactivist Joshua Wong,told VOA
   thatwhile filmingin 2015 and 2016,he "never imagined" Hong Kong would
   have to deal with this level of censorship so soon.

   The stakes always felt high for thethen-teenage subjects
   ofhisdocumentary,he said, butnot the filmmakers.

   "We're filmmakers, in our minds,we're protected," he said."Obviously,
   that's all changing. I know it sounds cliché to say it, but it's going
   to have a chilling effect on the film business."

   Wong, now 24,is serving consecutive jail sentences following guilty
   pleas of his participation in unauthorized assemblies during the
   anti-government protests in 2019 and 2020. He was also charged for
   subversion under the national security law earlier this year and is
   awaiting trial.

   Piscatellasaid he expectsHong Kong filmmakers toself-censorand predicts
   international streaming platforms may buckle over whether to stream a
   sensitive movie if pressured from China.

   "It's not going to stop somebody from filming," he said."I think the
   problem that will start to rear its head iswill mainstreamWestern media
   companies want to take up the mantle to fight to put something like
   that on their platform.Or is that just such a giant headache that
   they'll have to deal with China?"

   Anders Hammer, a Norwegian filmmaker,received an Oscar nominationthis
   yearfor his short documentary"Do Not Split"that focused on Hong Kong's
   anti-government protests in 2019.
   Anders Hammer, director of "Do Not Split," an Oscar-nominated
   documentary about the 2019 protests in Hong Kong speaks during an
   interview in Oslo, Norway, April 7, 2021.

   "These new film rules will make it even harder for local filmmakers to
   use their democratic rights to create art and challenge unjust power
   structures," hetold VOA."This week,it's two years since the
   pro-democracy protests started and it'sreally sad to see another
   serious example of Beijing's encroachment on Hong Kong's civil
   liberties."

   Hammer's filmwas panned byChinesefilm industryobservers, whosaidthe
   documentarywas"full of biased political stances" and "lacks artistry,"
   according to China's state-controlled media the [2]Global Times.

   Since Hong Kong was returned to China in 1997,the citywas supposed to
   continuetoenjoycertain freedoms unseen inmainland China under a "one
   country, two systems,"anagreement lasting for 50 years.

   Despitethose promises, critics have complained the cityhas
   becomeincreasinglymore alignedwithChina's mainland model, which is
   governed by the Chinese Communist Party.

   After 2019's pro-democracy protests, Beijing implemented the national
   security law for Hong Kong, whichcame into effect last year.
   Sincethen,dozens of pro-democracy activists have been arrested and
   jailed, while slogans have been banned and pro-democracy material has
   been removed from libraries.

   Thenewfilm censorship guidelines,Hong Kong authorities say,is"built on
   the premise of a balance between protection of individual rights and
   freedoms on the one hand, and the protection of legitimate societal
   interests on the other."

   The new policy calls out for special scrutiny of documentaries,
   particularly about Hong Kong. "The local audience may likely feel more
   strongly about the contents of the film or be led into believing and
   accepting the whole contents of the film, and the effect on viewers
   would be more impactful," the censor guidelines state. "The censor
   should carefully examine whether the film contains any biased,
   unverified, false or misleading narratives or presentation of
   commentaries, and the tendency of such contents to lead viewers to
   imitate the criminal or violent acts depicted."

   In China, movies are heavilyvetted,andcensorship is common,
   withfewWestern productions made availableto Chinese moviegoers.

   In March, Hong Kong's largest TV networkcancelled its broadcast of
   theAcademy Awardsfor the first time in over 50 years, citing
   "commercial reasons."The decision came as China requested media to
   lessen coverage of the awards after Hammer's documentary received a
   nomination.China's government was also displeased bythe political views
   of Beijing-born director Chloe Zhao, who subsequently won the Best
   Director award for her movieNomadland.

   Recently, organizers of the[3]Fresh Wave International Short Film
   festivalin Hong Kongpulled a screening of "FarFromHome," a short
   political film about Hong Kong following the 2019 anti-government
   protests. Reports say that censors didn't approve the screening.

   Nick Liu, an independent filmmaker from Hong Kong and director
   of"TomorrowIsNotPromised,"told VOAthe new rules are not clear, making
   it hard for filmmakers who"don't know what plot can or can't show in
   the film."

   An experienced member of the film industry in Hong Kong, who
   requestedanonymitywhen discussing the national security law,told VOA
   thatmuch depends on how the censors decide to apply the rules. Will
   authorities use the same standards on foreign films, he asked.
   "Will a film like South Korea's "1987" be banned just because it's
   about political activism?"

References

   1. https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202106/11/P2021061100239.htm?fontSize=1
   2. https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202103/1218729.shtml#:~:text=The%20film%20Do%20Not%20Split,industry%20observers%20said%20on%20Wednesday
   3. https://www.facebook.com/116437285041244/posts/4403587096326220/?d=n

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