TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The China Film Administration (中國國家電影局) announced new regulations on Thursday (July 4), requiring domestic short films to register before participating in international film festivals. This sudden move could impact entries in Taiwan's 61st Golden Horse Awards (金馬獎), which closed its short film submissions on July 1.
In 2023, the Chinese documentary short "The Memo" (備忘錄), directed by the Badlands Film Group (窮山惡水電影小組), won Best Documentary Short at the 60th Golden Horse Awards. Set against the backdrop of Shanghai's COVID-19 lockdown, the film highlights the absurdity of strict lockdown measures and conflicts between officials and citizens.
Founded in 2020, the Badlands Film Group explores the lower strata of contemporary Chinese society. After winning an award, their film "The Memo" was banned online in China, making it unsearchable on Weibo.
Chinese authorities have boycotted the Golden Horse Awards since 2019, with no Chinese films appearing on the nomination list that year. The new registration requirement raises questions about whether already-submitted Chinese short films will withdraw from the Golden Horse Awards.