Mainland director Lou Ye has been banned from making films for five years after putting his controversial Summer Palace movie in competition at this year's Cannes Film Festival without government approval.
Criticising the decision by the State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television as 'unreasonable', the director said last night he would try to 'obey' the order, 'but if I can't suppress my urge [to make movies], maybe I'll just make one or two'.
'A large number of filmmakers have been banned from making movies in China. And this decision means the practice has yet to be consigned to history,' Lou said from Beijing.
The ruling also applies to Nai An, producer of the romantic movie, set against the backdrop of the 1989 student-led pro-democracy movement and which contains explicit sex scenes.
Summer Palace was the only Asian contender for the festival's top honour, the Palme d'Or, but it did not win any awards.
The administration announced its ruling on Lou and Nai on Friday, said a report by the Legal Mirror yesterday. Xinhua reported that an official from the administration confirmed the punishment.