Hong Kong protests film distributor has funding cut after arts council chairman says documentary ‘beautifies riots’

Arts Development Council withholds more than HK$700,000 in funding from Ying E Chi Cinema

The group distributed a controversial documentary about 13-day stand-off between police and protesters at Polytechnic University in 2019

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Police and protesters clashed outside Polytechnic University in November, 2019. Photo: Sam Tsang

Published: 5:29pm, 2 Jul 2021Updated: 11:08pm, 2 Jul 2021

The city’s arts funding body is pulling its grant to the distributor of a controversial documentary featuring fierce clashes at a Hong Kong university during 2019’s anti-government protests, with its chairman accusing the film of “beautifying riots”.

Wilfred Wong Ying-wai, chairman of the Arts Development Council, told the Post the funding for the upcoming year involved more than HK$700,000 (US$90,000) and the decision had been discussed by committees and council members.

Wong said the discrepancies between Ying E Chi Cinema’s initial proposals and the final outcome of its work was a factor, and specifically pointed to the company’s documentary Inside the Red Brick Wall, which chronicles the 13-day stand-off between police and protesters at Polytechnic University.

“Beautifying riots and expressing dissatisfaction against the current regime, especially under today‘s social sentiments, are part of the reason,” he said.

A still from the documentary Inside the Red Brick Wall, best picture winner at the 2020 Hong Kong Film Critics Society awards.

In a statement issued by the statutory body on Friday evening, the council pointed to what it said was the negative effect of films distributed by Ying E Chi, saying the PolyU documentary in particular had raised concerns.