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Chinese Independent Film Festivals Under Pressure

The cancellation of a queer film festival and the postponement of the Wuhan bǎilin Film Festival mark another wave of disruptions to independent Chinese film screenings since 2025.
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Last week, two Chinese independent film festivals announced on their social media platforms that their scheduled events in late October would be cancelled or postponed. 

The Love Queer Cinema Week (愛酷電影周), also known as the Beijing Queer Festival (北京酷兒影展), announced its cancellation one day before its opening on October 30 after reportedly facing harassment from the police, according to The Guardian. That cancellation came just a few months after Pride month-themed screenings set to be held at the French cultural center in Beijing were also cancelled. Founded 25 years ago by a group of Peking University students, Love Queer Cinema Week was the only film festival that offered a platform for open discussion about LGBTQ+ issues in China. 

Another festival, the Wuhan bǎilin Film Festival (武漢柏林電影周) — which screened selections of Chinese and international independent films every year since 2022 — also announced it would postpone all its screenings and events one day before its scheduled opening on October 30, without providing a clear reason.

The cancellations are only two among many in the past two years as crackdowns on independent media impact Chinese filmmakers at home and abroad. Explore the tool below for a complete list of cancelled film festivals from 2025 on. We will continue to update this tool should new cancellations occur. 

Disruptions to Chinese Film Festivals, 2025–2026

Disruptions to Chinese Film Festivals, 2025–2026

Seven reported incidents affecting six festivals and screening programs in four cities, in China and abroad

Select a numbered pin to see that city’s incidents
East Asia
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Zack Chiang is a researcher for the China Media Project. He previously worked as the production coordinator in Ghost Island Media, a podcast network in Taiwan covering Taiwanese affairs, politics and society. He holds a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Hong Kong.
Jordyn Haime is the Managing Editor of the China Media Project.

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