Via a Private Link: Film Censorship and Underground Streaming in China
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22235/d.v37i2.3346Keywords:
Chinese cinema, censorship, underground cinema, film regulation, alternative mediaAbstract
This essay examines the interplay between law, technology, and culture in the distribution and consumption of censored films in China. It begins by analyzing the relevant laws and regulations in the industry and explores the various ways that underground cinema circumvents government restrictions. It highlights the independent filmmakers' use of new technologies and alternative media as strategies to publish their censored works. During the pandemic, director Jiang Nengjie shared his documentary Miners, Groom, and Pneumoconiosis (2019) via private links on cloud services, leading to its online virality and earning him the nickname “cloud drive director”. Streaming via video conferencing apps has also created new opportunities for independent films to thrive in China. The emergence of underground cinema online has created an ongoing social movement, providing independent films with the chance to prosper outside of mainstream media.
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