The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) on Thursday said it hopes the spirit of cinematic freedom would be respected, after Hong Kong joined China in boycotting the Golden Horse Awards.
The Hong Kong Motion Picture Industry Association reportedly sent an e-mail to its members on Tuesday instructing them to “think twice” before participating in the 59th annual awards, which are to be held in Taipei on Nov. 19.
The move follows years of boycotts by the China Film Administration, which in 2019 banned Chinese from participating in the event.
Photo: Chen Yu-fu, Taipei Times
In the letter, the group references the “gradual politicization” of the event, known locally as the Oscars of the Chinese-speaking world.
“Many Taiwanese directors and artists have repeatedly made comments that have nothing to do with the art of filmmaking, mixing politics with cinema and tainting independent artistry,” the message said. “This has dragged the entire event down a controversial path.”
Industry members should think twice before attending “to avoid getting involved in unnecessary disputes and losing more than you gain,” it added.
Asked about the issue on Wednesday, China’s Taiwan Affairs Office spokeswoman Zhu Fenglian (朱鳳蓮) told a routine news conference that China “has always enthusiastically supported” activities that promote mutual understanding and recognition across the Taiwan Strait.
“As for those events with political overtones, that is another matter,” she said.
MAC spokesman Chiu Chui-cheng (邱垂正) yesterday said that the Golden Horse Awards respect artistic freedom and serve as a badge of honor for those working in the Chinese-language film industry.
“We hope that the liberal environment and spirit of filmmaking can be respected, and we will always welcome excellent films with open arms,” he added.
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