After a handful of English-language publications declared that authorities had "shut down" the Beijing Independent Film Festival (BIFF), many people likely dusted their hands of the matter, thinking censorship had once again triumphed over artistic expression. But as James Hsu discovered more than a week after the festival’s supposed cancellation, BIFF held a successful, albeit quiet, closing ceremony following a full program of screenings and panels.
So what happened? A few days after the closing, I met with artistic director Dong Bingfeng to ask him about that and other issues on censorship, film in China, and independent festivals in the future.
That rubber duck -- you know the one -- looked pretty sad in its new environs of Beijing last week. Check out these photos via AP, and the accompanying story via Reuters:
Ace (Amy's roommate!) speaks to John Artman and Amy Daml about teaching young children in China, culture shock after arriving from Boulder, Colorado in 2009 -- her first time out of the country -- and other...unique experiences in Beijing.
Yesterday night around 9:16 pm, a white Lamborghini was found in flames on the side of East Fourth Ring Road near Dongfeng Bridge. The Jiuxianqiao fire department rushed onto the scene with three trucks, but the flames weren't quenched until they completely and utterly destroyed this poor, precious vehicle.
In an interesting turn of events, the Beijing Independent Film Festival concluded on Saturday without further interference from local authorities. Despite opening-day warnings that suggested cancellation was a distinct possibility, the festival continued to screen films every day at the Li Xianting Film Fund's office courtyard in Songzhuang Art District.
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