Chinese Film Makers Pull out of Melbourne Film Festival in Retaliation to Uighur Film

The Melbourne Film Festival, on at the moment, has sparked controversy because after pressure from the Chinese Government they still have refused to pull the documentary by exiled Uighur leader, Reya Kadeer.

The Australian made film, “The 10 Conditions of Love” directed by Melbournian, Jeff Daniels, is about Uighur business woman and  exhiled leader, Rebiya Kadeer and her fight for greater rights for the 10 million Uighurs living in China.

Melbourne film festival refused to dump the film even after the pressure form the Chinese Government who call Ms Kadeer a criminal and terrorist and accuse her of masterminding the recent ethnic riots in Xinjiang where over 180 people were killed.
Since the film festival's refusal to be censored three Chinese films have been withdrawn by their relevant Chinese film makers.  The films,  “Perfect Life”, “Petition – The Court of Complaints” and  ‘Cry Me a River” have caused at least six sessions to be cancelled at the festival.

Festival director Richard Moore said yesterday it was a major disruption and uncalled for. "I am obviously upset because we have supported the work of these filmmakers in the past," he said. "People get passionate about their films every year but this … I wasn't expecting this amount of dissent from outside forces" he said. Asked whether he believed Chinese filmmakers had been pressured to withdraw by the Chinese Government, Moore said it was extremely sensitive: "I can't comment further."

The Chinese film makers had said they were either withdrawing the films in protest of Ms Kadeer’s attendance or worried about colleagues pressure from the Beijing authorities if screening of the films went ahead.