An independent film festival in New York, scheduled to begin this weekend, has been called off after multiple participating filmmakers withdrew their submissions. Organizers cite sustained pressure exerted on participants, including contacts made with family members abroad, as the primary reason for the event’s suspension.
The festival, which was set to showcase independent cinema, lost the majority of its planned screenings after directors, particularly those based in China, requested their films be pulled. While some cited personal reasons, others indicated that relatives in their home countries had been approached by authorities, leading to their decision to withdraw.
The festival’s curator, based in New York, stated that a colleague in Beijing had been detained for questioning and instructed to cease collaboration. Additionally, one of the event’s venues received an anonymous letter urging the cancellation of screenings.
In a public statement, the organizer explained the cancellation, noting the ethical impossibility of proceeding when individuals involved—from filmmakers and staff to volunteers and attendees—could potentially face intimidation or harassment. “My priority is to ensure no one is placed in jeopardy, whether the threats are tangible or manufactured for coercion,” the statement read.
Observers of international cultural policy point to this incident as part of a broader pattern where artistic expressions and events outside the country’s borders are influenced through various forms of pressure. Independent film communities, once more visible, have increasingly operated with caution in recent years following a series of regulatory actions and legal cases against filmmakers and cultural organizers.
The cancellation has sparked discussion about the challenges of organizing independent cultural events with international participation under such circumstances. Requests for comment to the relevant diplomatic mission were not immediately returned.