Latest from Clarence Tsui
As women make strides on the international film festival circuit, Locarno’s Lili Hinstin stresses the importance of diversity versus parity.
As women make strides on the international film festival circuit, Locarno’s Lili Hinstin stresses the importance of diversity versus parity.
FIRST International Film Festival chief executive is used to navigating the perils of Chinese censorship, but negative comments posted online about festival entries are too much for Li Ziwei, who fears investors will be put off.
FIRST International Film Festival chief executive is used to navigating the perils of Chinese censorship, but negative comments posted online about festival entries are too much for Li Ziwei, who fears investors will be put off.
The ‘handmade film lab’ is dedicated to reviving analogue filmmaking. When it comes to celluloid, however, Hong Kong and mainland China are out of the picture.
The ‘handmade film lab’ is dedicated to reviving analogue filmmaking. When it comes to celluloid, however, Hong Kong and mainland China are out of the picture.
The Eight Hundred and Better Days are withdrawn over controversial KMT and youth violence content; The Last Wish is renamed. White Storm 2 and The Invincible Dragon fill the gaps in mainland cineplex schedules.
The Eight Hundred and Better Days are withdrawn over controversial KMT and youth violence content; The Last Wish is renamed. White Storm 2 and The Invincible Dragon fill the gaps in mainland cineplex schedules.
Recent restorations and screenings reflect authorities’ willingness to rehabilitate controversial classics.
Recent restorations and screenings reflect authorities’ willingness to rehabilitate controversial classics.
Director Patricio Guzmán’s latest film, like many others he has made, explores a painful chapter in Chile’s past, but Chinese auteurs do not enjoy the same liberties, with certain historical events subject to strict censorship.
Director Patricio Guzmán’s latest film, like many others he has made, explores a painful chapter in Chile’s past, but Chinese auteurs do not enjoy the same liberties, with certain historical events subject to strict censorship.
After more than a decade in the business, Wu, who just made her debut in Cannes with a Me Too-themed thriller that she also wrote the screenplay for, is finally coming into her own.
After more than a decade in the business, Wu, who just made her debut in Cannes with a Me Too-themed thriller that she also wrote the screenplay for, is finally coming into her own.
Debutant director Zu Feng plays a cop whose murder investigation brings him face to face with the victim’s sister; both feel responsible for the death of a loved one – cue sad looks and grave talk, and a film that ultimately lacks soul.
Debutant director Zu Feng plays a cop whose murder investigation brings him face to face with the victim’s sister; both feel responsible for the death of a loved one – cue sad looks and grave talk, and a film that ultimately lacks soul.
Taiwanese filmmaker’s story of a bit-part actress who endures humiliation and violence on the road to stardom, and loses her sanity, is gripping, suspenseful and slick.
Taiwanese filmmaker’s story of a bit-part actress who endures humiliation and violence on the road to stardom, and loses her sanity, is gripping, suspenseful and slick.
The only Chinese-language title in competition at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival, its subject matter – urban crime in China –is a surprise in the current climate. The story of the hunt for a gangster on the run, this is a sensational thrill ride.
The only Chinese-language title in competition at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival, its subject matter – urban crime in China –is a surprise in the current climate. The story of the hunt for a gangster on the run, this is a sensational thrill ride.
Huang Hsin-chien’s show at Cannes, in collaboration with musician Laurie Anderson, is a ray of hope for Taiwan’s budding new media artists.
Huang Hsin-chien’s show at Cannes, in collaboration with musician Laurie Anderson, is a ray of hope for Taiwan’s budding new media artists.
As Pema Tseden’s latest movie takes on the Avengers in China this weekend, the David-and-Goliath battle is reminiscent of another in 2017
As Pema Tseden’s latest movie takes on the Avengers in China this weekend, the David-and-Goliath battle is reminiscent of another in 2017
Flashy campaigns might help fill seats on a movie’s opening weekend but misleading messaging can turn the audience off, as seen with some recent releases in mainland China.
Flashy campaigns might help fill seats on a movie’s opening weekend but misleading messaging can turn the audience off, as seen with some recent releases in mainland China.
Hong Kong film-goers’ interest in Bai Xue’s feature, a realist take on cross-border people smuggling, shows they want more than the caricatured portrayals of their city typical of local directors.
Hong Kong film-goers’ interest in Bai Xue’s feature, a realist take on cross-border people smuggling, shows they want more than the caricatured portrayals of their city typical of local directors.
In movies that examine the lives of children from different ethnic minorities and social classes, China’s up-and-coming filmmakers may have found a way to tackle topics that would otherwise be no-go zones.
In movies that examine the lives of children from different ethnic minorities and social classes, China’s up-and-coming filmmakers may have found a way to tackle topics that would otherwise be no-go zones.
They hoped to contribute to their country’s awakening from semi-feudal slumber, but its communist rulers soon went from emancipation to repression; archivist Mariam Ghani has made a documentary about their unfinished films.
They hoped to contribute to their country’s awakening from semi-feudal slumber, but its communist rulers soon went from emancipation to repression; archivist Mariam Ghani has made a documentary about their unfinished films.
Part of an experimental Berlin Film Festival programme, exhibition Shadow Circus documents the unlikely alliance between exiled Tibetans and the US spy agency, which lasted from the 1950s well into the 1970s.
Part of an experimental Berlin Film Festival programme, exhibition Shadow Circus documents the unlikely alliance between exiled Tibetans and the US spy agency, which lasted from the 1950s well into the 1970s.
While veteran European female directors, such as Agnès Varda, were honoured at the Berlin International Film Festival, their contemporaries in China are still awaiting their moment in the sun.
While veteran European female directors, such as Agnès Varda, were honoured at the Berlin International Film Festival, their contemporaries in China are still awaiting their moment in the sun.
With no explanation for the late withdrawal of Zhang’s film One Second from competition at the Berlin festival, it is no surprise international commentators gave renewed attention to the censorship of Chinese films.
With no explanation for the late withdrawal of Zhang’s film One Second from competition at the Berlin festival, it is no surprise international commentators gave renewed attention to the censorship of Chinese films.
Wang Xiaoshuai returns to form with this story of how a couple in China, and their friends, cope with the death of their only son; despite its sombre narrative, the film may be his most upbeat yet.
Wang Xiaoshuai returns to form with this story of how a couple in China, and their friends, cope with the death of their only son; despite its sombre narrative, the film may be his most upbeat yet.
The Dutch filmmaker returns to his favourite subject, this time with the documentary Inner Landscape, which shows a Chinese composer’s struggle to save a dying musical tradition
The Dutch filmmaker returns to his favourite subject, this time with the documentary Inner Landscape, which shows a Chinese composer’s struggle to save a dying musical tradition
Filmmaker Zhu Shengze’s Present.Perfect shines a spotlight on China’s everyday folk live streamers, many of whom are just searching for a human connection.
Filmmaker Zhu Shengze’s Present.Perfect shines a spotlight on China’s everyday folk live streamers, many of whom are just searching for a human connection.
Cinema-goers were expecting a romcom and an excuse for a New Year’s Eve smooch, but Long Day’s Journey into Night is a far more challenging affair
Cinema-goers were expecting a romcom and an excuse for a New Year’s Eve smooch, but Long Day’s Journey into Night is a far more challenging affair
The island’s movie-making industry is pursuing international ambitions with strong showing at the Festival des 3 Continents and push into Southeast Asia
The island’s movie-making industry is pursuing international ambitions with strong showing at the Festival des 3 Continents and push into Southeast Asia
The lack of a film industry or training schools in the casino hub means new directors have little support, unlike their Chinese or Hong Kong counterparts
The lack of a film industry or training schools in the casino hub means new directors have little support, unlike their Chinese or Hong Kong counterparts
- The Chengdu film festival, by Yang Jing, The One aims to raise the ratio of female filmmakers in a country where 65 per cent of cinema-goers are women, but most scripts are written from a male perspective
- The Chengdu film festival, by Yang Jing, The One aims to raise the ratio of female filmmakers in a country where 65 per cent of cinema-goers are women, but most scripts are written from a male perspective
Pingyao International Film Festival draws young cinema fans from big cities hours away; Cheap tickets and accommodation, and stalls selling food and artisanal goods part of the draw
Pingyao International Film Festival draws young cinema fans from big cities hours away; Cheap tickets and accommodation, and stalls selling food and artisanal goods part of the draw
From Hollywood and France to South Korea and Japan, international filmmakers are keen to team up with those in China, but mixed results show unpredictability of mainland audiences and administrators
From Hollywood and France to South Korea and Japan, international filmmakers are keen to team up with those in China, but mixed results show unpredictability of mainland audiences and administrators
Chinese Portrait, a film by director Wang Xiaoshuai, is an amalgamation of short clips shot over the past decade showing the country’s physical and sociological evolution
Chinese Portrait, a film by director Wang Xiaoshuai, is an amalgamation of short clips shot over the past decade showing the country’s physical and sociological evolution
A small-time film production company may have found the formula for big-screen success with its comedy of manners starring Celina Jade
A small-time film production company may have found the formula for big-screen success with its comedy of manners starring Celina Jade