China’s short films must now follow script for overseas screenings, with new rules from regulator

Producers of all movies made in China must now follow existing approval rules if they wish to show their works abroad

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On Thursday the China Film Administration announced that domestically produced short films can only appear at foreign film festivals or exhibitions if they obtain permits for public screenings.

Published: 6:24pm, 5 Jul 2024Updated: 7:28pm, 5 Jul 2024

China’s top film regulator has ordered that all Chinese movies strictly follow rules on approvals before being screened in overseas film festivals, months after a Chinese movie about Covid lockdowns triggered heated discussion at this year’s Cannes Film Festival.

In a notice issued on Thursday, the China Film Administration said all domestically produced short films could only appear at foreign film festivals or exhibitions if they obtained permits for public screenings. The film producers must also file records with regulators at least 20 working days in advance of the overseas screening.

The film management and censorship body repeated the existing rules on feature films, and added that producers of short films – which were not previously covered under the regulations – must also follow the same rules if they planned to show their work overseas.

Earlier this year, acclaimed director Lou Ye’s independent movie, An Unfinished Film, revived questions about China’s controversial zero-Covid policy, following its release at a special screening on May 16 at the annual Cannes Film Festival in France.

The film has not been approved for public screenings in China and is unlikely to be seen in the country as its content has been censored on the internet.

Chinese director Lou Ye made the film An Unfinished Business about life in lockdown. Photo: AFP

Nationalist commentators labelled Lou a “traitor” and argued that the film was intended as a critique of China’s response to the pandemic. But others praised the film as a vivid depiction of some of the tragedies caused by Beijing’s harsh zero-Covid rules.