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Beijing’s annual independent queer film festival has been cancelled following what is understood to be a sustained campaign of harassment from authorities. The event, known as the Love Queer Film Week, was scheduled to start on Friday in the Chinese capital and stands as one of the nation’s oldest independent film gatherings.
Festival Organisers Issue Statement and Police Pressure Mounts
Organisers announced the cancellation in a statement published on Instagram late on Thursday. They expressed regret for the cancellation and apologised for any inconvenience and disappointment caused to participants and those looking forward to the event. Sources indicated that police had escalated pressure on the festival through persistent phone calls over recent weeks.
Established in 2001 by Peking University students, the festival developed into the sole film event in mainland China providing a public platform for movies and discussions focused on LGBTQ+ issues. Chinese authorities have displayed increasing intolerance toward open discourse regarding feminist and LGBTQ+ topics, targeting film festivals due to their potential to feature narratives outside the ruling Communist party’s worldview.
Broader Crackdown on Civil Society and Independent Cinema
Historical precedent includes the closure of the Beijing Independent film festival in 2014, when authorities detained founders and cut power to the venue. Additionally, an independent Chinese film festival planned for New York last year was called off following harassment from Chinese authorities, sparking worries regarding transnational repression.
Maya Wang, the deputy Asia director for Human Rights Watch, stated that under Xi Jinping, the Chinese government has persistently tightened ideological and social control. Wang explained that activities unapproved by the party-state face heightened scrutiny and official harassment, leaving civil society, LGBT communities, and independent filmmakers under severe pressure.
Hongwei Bao, a professor of Chinese studies at the University of St Andrews specialising in LGBT issues, described the event as a beacon for LGBT resilience in China. Bao noted that the shutdown of the Love Queer Cinema Week exerts a chilling effect on the local queer community.
Previous Cancellations and International Interest
Similar incidents occurred in June of this year when police harassment forced the cancellation of LGBTQ+-themed film screenings scheduled at the Institut Français, a French cultural centre in Beijing, during Pride month.
Despite mounting pressure, the festival retained strong popularity, drawing international filmmakers who traveled to China to take part. The event also attracted 200 volunteer applications last year, quadruple the figure recorded in 2024.
Beijing’s public security bureau was unavailable for comment regarding the cancellation.
