#YingEChi #Ban #Documentaries
#Censorship: Hong Kong Authorities Accuse Protest Documentaries of "Constituting Criminal Offences"

The Hong Kong government's Office for Film, Newspaper and Article Administration (#OFNAA), which is responsible for approving films and printed matters for public distribution, accused two local documentaries of "constituting criminal offences" for showing footages of the 2019 Anti-ELAB movement.

The two documentaries “Taking back the Legislature" and "Inside the Red Brick Wall" were produced by Ying E Chi, a veteran non-profit independent film organization in Hong Kong.

The documentaries captured the pro-democracy protesters' siege of the legislative council on July 1, 2019 and the siege of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University in November 2019, respectively.

Ying E Chi released a statement on Sept 21, 2020 and revealed how the OFNAA has made different attempts to bar the films from being shown in cinema. These included the request to re-edit; overturning past approved screening certificates; and classifying "Inside the Red Brick Wall" into a Category III film only 2 hours before its release.*

*In Hong Kong, Category III films are restricted to an audience above 18 years of age. In the case of "Inside the Red Brick Wall", Ying E Chi has to make refund to all underaged spectators.

Ying E Chi said the authorities has tried to "coerce the directors into making statements against their wills" and threatened to bar the films from screening.

Ying E Chi also expressed that "the opinion expressed in the statement issued by The Office for Film, Newspaper and Article Administration (OFNAA) does not reflect the views of the director and the production team".

According to Ying E Chi director Vincent Chui, four staff of the OFNAA were present to monitor the public screening on Sept 21, 2020.

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Ying E Chi expresses strong disagreement as the OFNAA:

1. Force the films to be edited under the pretext of protecting everyone, but in fact, only to protect their own interest

2. Request an announcement to be made at the beginning of the film, yet refused to be declared as the one who demanded the announcement

(See images in blue: https://publielectoral.lat/guardiansofhongkong/25425)

3. Overturn the previous certificate issued by the OFNAA with unspecified reason

4. Fail to issue the certificate on time as promised, whilst shifting the responsibility to the applicant

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The comments made by the OFNAA on the two documentaries are as follows:

“Taking back the Legislature”:
“This film records the serious incident of the storming of the Legislative Council Complex on 1 July 2019. Some of those depictions or acts may constitute criminal offences under prevailing laws.”

“Inside the Red Brick Wall:
“This film records the serious incidents at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and nearby areas in November 2019. Some of those depictions or acts may constitute criminal offences under prevailing laws. Some of the contents of or commentaries in the film may be unverified or misleading.”

Source: Ying E Chi; Apple Daily #Sept21
https://www.facebook.com/261128170659949/posts/3063984707040934/

https://hk.appledaily.com/local/20200921/KVBCY4X4LZG4DKOP6FJJIF34AE/

#VincentChui #PolyUSiege #LegCoSiege #1July2019 #IndieCinema #HongKongCinema

#Censorship #YingEChi
Independent filmmakers: Film inspection authority stalls reviewing process and shutters anti-ELAB movement DVD submitted for inspection

“Inside the Red Brick Wall”, a documentary directed by filmmakers of HK Documentary Initiative was released on September 21 at the Hong Kong Arts Center. The film, centered on the siege of Hong Kong Polytechnic University, has captured one of the most intense confrontations between pro-democracy protesters and HK police during the year-long anti-ELAB movement in 2019.

When receiving the long-overdue Certificate of Approval, Ying E Chi Cinema was stunned to find the DVD of “Inside the Red Brick Wall” it submitted for inspection was “utterly shattered”.

When being asked, a staff member of OFNAA (Office for Film, Newspaper and Article Administration) claimed that they had “accidentally'' damaged it during reviewing process. Ying E Chi Cinema stated on its Facebook that “it had never occurred in almost 20 years since our establishment”.

Source: Apple Daily #Sept22
#WhiteTerror #FailedState #FreedomOfSpeech #HongKongCinema #IndieCinema

Read how the negotiation between Ying E Chi cinema and the OFNAA unfolds on the cinema’s Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=3063984707040934&id=261128170659949

Related article: Hong Kong Authorities Accuse Protest Documentaries of "Constituting Criminal Offences"
https://publielectoral.lat/guardiansofhongkong/25426

Film Star Chow Yun-fat Thanks Fellow #Hongkongers in Congregation Ceremony

Hong Kong actor Chow Yun-fat received a honary doctoral degree in humanities at Hong Kong Baptist University on August 7, 2021.

In his speech, Chow humorously recalled the different stages of his acting career, from television to cinema, Hong Kong to Hollywood.

Chow especially thanked the support, encouragement and affection extended by Hongkongers. "I need to thank Hong Kong as a place which bestowed on me wisedom and love. Thank you, Hongkongers. Thank you, Hong Kong."

Source: InMedia #Aug7

#ChowYunFat #Actor #Celebrity #Hollywood #HongKongCinema

Tears Shed at Premier of PolyU Siege Documentary in London

The documentary "Inside the Red Brick Wall" was shown in the Open City documentary festival in London on September 11. The film captured one of the most aggressive crackdowns of Hongkonger's fight for democracy during the anti-Extradition movement in 2019, the police siege against protesters in Polytechnic University (#PolyU).

Many Hongkongers that have recently arrived in the UK went to see this documentary. Among them was a pro-democracy supporters, K, who said she took part in one of the demonstrations near the university. K told reporters that the documentary has brought back memories of the crackdown and her involvement in those demonstrations.

She was very saddened because she knew that those endured the sufferings during the siege were ordinary youngsters, real people with flesh and blood. She couldn't help but shed tears as she watched the documentary.

K acknowledged that the screening in UK did provide a platform for Hongkongers to get together, so that they knew they were not alone and can seek support when needed.

She hopes for the documentary to be shown in other countries, to let the world better understand what is happening in Hong Kong. She believes that the question-and-answer session at the end of the show helped local people understand what Hong Kong people has gone through during the movement.

#PolyUseige #FightForFreedom #StandwithHK #Documentary #InsidetheRedBrickWall #HongKongCinema #Screening #London

Source: Stand News; #Sept12
https://www.thestandnews.com/international/%E7%90%86%E5%A4%A7%E5%9C%8D%E5%9F%8E%E8%8B%B1%E5%9C%8B%E9%A6%96%E6%94%BE%E6%98%A0-%E6%B8%AF%E4%BA%BA%E8%A7%80%E5%BD%B1%E8%90%BD%E6%B7%9A