Controversial Chinese filmmaker Chen Pinlin is facing charges in Shanghai for his documentary on a protest movement. He was arrested in January and charged in February with “picking quarrels and provoking trouble,” a common charge against activists in China.
Chen’s film, “Not the Foreign Force” in English and “Urumqi Road” in Chinese, focused on the white paper movement that started after a tragic fire in Xinjiang. Despite being careful in their protests, demonstrators were seen as criticizing the government’s strict measures and censorship.
The white paper movement marked significant public demonstrations in China. A parallel case involved filmmaker Guo Zhenming, who was blocked from attending his documentary’s premiere in Singapore due to government restrictions.
Chen’s charges have been reported by international media outlets like the Hong Kong Free Press and human rights news websites, but mainland authorities have not confirmed the details. The situation points to ongoing limitations on freedom of expression in China’s film industry.
