'We're all Melburnians': Uighur leader controversy goes globalEmailPrintNormal fontLarge font
Rebiya Kadeer with documentary maker Jeff Daniels in Melbourne today.
Photo: Rebecca Hallas
August 5, 2009
As exiled Uighur leader Rebiya Kadeer arrives in Melbourne for the launch of a controversial documentary about her, a renowned film critic has called for film festival organisers around the world to unite for the freedom of cinema.
In a blog on The New Yorker's website, the magazine's movie editor, Richard Brody, has called for the documentary The 10 Conditions of Love to be screened worldwide at upcoming festivals, including the Toronto Film Festival in September and the New York Film Festival in October.
The title of the blog, "We are all Melbournian (sic)" echoes the rhetoric of former US president John F Kennedy's "Ich bin ein Berliner" declaration.
"Films critical of government are a staple of cinema, and of film festivals," he said.
"At this moment, the world's film festival organisers should be uniting in defense of the right to program without fear films they deem worthwhile."
The documentary will premiere at the Melbourne International Film Festival on Saturday despite pressure from the Chinese consulate on organisers to drop it and Chinese hackers attacking the festival's website.
The Chinese Government has accused Ms Kadeer, 62, of inciting the deadly ethnic rioting in Xianjiang last month between Uighurs and Han Chinese.
The Brisbane International Film Festival, running in parallel with the Melbourne festival, has been able to add several Chinese-language films to its program after the directors pulled them from MIFF in protest.
The Brisbane festival's director, Anne Demy-Geore, said screening the documentary worldwide would send an important political message even if it prevented other Chinese directors from exhibiting their work.
"It is very sad for Chinese directors but it makes a strong political stance ... I think the principle [of the article] is really good," Ms Demy-Geore said.
Film historian Quentin Turner said historically, film festivals had always been a platform of political advocacy and an instigator of change.
"Nothing is new [about the Chinese attack campaign]. What has changed is the technology of political campaigning," Mr Turner said.
Rebiya Kadeer with documentary maker Jeff Daniels in Melbourne today.Photo: Rebecca Hallas
August 5, 2009
As exiled Uighur leader Rebiya Kadeer arrives in Melbourne for the launch of a controversial documentary about her, a renowned film critic has called for film festival organisers around the world to unite for the freedom of cinema.
In a blog on The New Yorker's website, the magazine's movie editor, Richard Brody, has called for the documentary The 10 Conditions of Love to be screened worldwide at upcoming festivals, including the Toronto Film Festival in September and the New York Film Festival in October.
The title of the blog, "We are all Melbournian (sic)" echoes the rhetoric of former US president John F Kennedy's "Ich bin ein Berliner" declaration.
"Films critical of government are a staple of cinema, and of film festivals," he said.
"At this moment, the world's film festival organisers should be uniting in defense of the right to program without fear films they deem worthwhile."
The documentary will premiere at the Melbourne International Film Festival on Saturday despite pressure from the Chinese consulate on organisers to drop it and Chinese hackers attacking the festival's website.
The Chinese Government has accused Ms Kadeer, 62, of inciting the deadly ethnic rioting in Xianjiang last month between Uighurs and Han Chinese.
The Brisbane International Film Festival, running in parallel with the Melbourne festival, has been able to add several Chinese-language films to its program after the directors pulled them from MIFF in protest.
The Brisbane festival's director, Anne Demy-Geore, said screening the documentary worldwide would send an important political message even if it prevented other Chinese directors from exhibiting their work.
"It is very sad for Chinese directors but it makes a strong political stance ... I think the principle [of the article] is really good," Ms Demy-Geore said.
Film historian Quentin Turner said historically, film festivals had always been a platform of political advocacy and an instigator of change.
"Nothing is new [about the Chinese attack campaign]. What has changed is the technology of political campaigning," Mr Turner said.
