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Recent Chinese Independent Documentary film (1990-2018) and its Relantionship to Practice of Censorship
Honcoop, Haruna ; BENDOVÁ, Helena (advisor) ; LOMOVÁ, Olga (referee)
This diploma thesis describes the situation of independent documentary film in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) over the last three decades (1990–2018), dividing the period into three phases. Focusing on key filmmakers and their work, the thesis illustrates the obstacles and opportunities that independent filmmakers navigate when producing and distributing films outside of the system of censorship. The PRC’s censorship system is described in a short historical review which culminates in the recently-issued Censorship Law of 2017 and its practical provisions, thus clarifying the mechanisms of surveillance and regulation which affect how documentary filmmakers work. Important film festivals and centres of the independent documentary movement are described in chronological order, as well as the disappearance of such activities following the accession to power of the current ruling elite in 2012. Because recent conditions prohibit the free distribution of non-censored films, this thesis pays attention to important support provided by international documentary film festivals, their programmers and curators, and archivists and researchers from Western universities. Finally, the thesis analyzes filmmakers‘ reactions to the current situation, which range from ignorance and obedience, through self-censorship to protest resulting in imprisonment or exile. Finally, the thesis mentions the methods in totalitarian China of nowadays used in controlling the filmmakers and the complete society through digital technologies.
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