World

Beijing Queer Film Festival Canceled Amid Police Pressure

By Amy Hawkins

Beijing’s annual independent queer film festival, scheduled to start on Friday, was canceled after a series of alleged police harassment. In a late‑Thursday Instagram post, organizers announced, “We regret to inform you that the Love Queer Film Week … has been cancelled. We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience and disappointment that the cancellation of this event may cause to those who planned to participate or had been looking forward to the film week.” Authorities reportedly increased pressure on the festival with repeated phone calls in recent weeks. The festival, founded in 2001 by Peking University students, is the only mainland Chinese film festival that publicly showcases LGBTQ+ films and discussions. Chinese authorities have tightened control over feminist and LGBTQ+ discourse, and film festivals are closely scrutinized for presenting narratives outside the Communist Party’s worldview. The Beijing Independent Film Festival was shut down in 2014 after its founders were detained and the venue’s electricity was cut. Last year, an independent Chinese film festival slated for New York was also canceled after harassment from Chinese authorities, raising concerns about transnational repression. Maya Wang, deputy Asia director for Human Rights Watch, said the Chinese government under Xi has been tightening social and ideological control, subjecting unsanctioned activities to increased scrutiny and harassment. Hongwei Bao, a professor of Chinese studies at the University of St Andrews, described the festival as “a beacon for LGBT resilience” and noted that its shutdown has a chilling effect on the Chinese queer community. Earlier in June, screenings of LGBTQ+ films scheduled in Beijing during Pride month at the Institut Français were canceled due to police harassment. Despite the pressure, the festival remains popular; several international filmmakers had traveled to China to participate, and last year the festival received 200 volunteer applications—four times the number received in 2024. Beijing’s public security bureau could not be reached for comment.