4 days ago
Screening of Taiwanese film ‘Family Matters' axed from festival after failing to meet gov't censorship requirements
A Taiwanese film has been axed from a film festival programme after it failed to meet requirements set by the Hong Kong government's censorship requirements.
The Hong Kong International Film Festival said in a Facebook post on Wednesday that it had to cancel the screening of Family Matters. The movie was scheduled for two showings, one next Saturday and another on August 18, as part of the Cine Fan Summer International Film Festival 2025.
'The screenings… have been cancelled due to the film not meeting the revision requirements set by the Office for Film, Newspaper and Article Administration (OFNAA),' the statement said, referring to the government department that handles public screening applications.
In the past, OFNAA has required films that do not pass its initial vetting to make changes, such as editing out certain scenes.
The festival organiser did not mention what the revision requirements were. HKFP has reached out to the film's Taiwanese distributor for a response.
Refunds will be arranged for those who bought tickets, the organiser said.
In response to HKFP, the OFNAA said it 'would not comment on the application or censorship decision of individual films.'
Family Matters is Taiwanese director Pan Ke-yin's first feature film. The film revolves around a four-member family in Taiwan's historic Changhua city as they deal with issues including identity, fertility and relationship, according to its synopsis.
The film was honoured with a best feature film award at the New York Asian Film Festival in late July.
Hong Kong's Film Censorship Ordinance states that a film needs to obtain a 'certificate of approval' in order to be screened publicly. OFNAA is responsible for vetting applications for public film screenings.
Almost four years ago, Hong Kong passed an amendment to the ordinance that allowed the banning of films deemed contrary to national security.
In February, a student union at the Chinese University of Hong Kong cancelled the screening of a Burmese film set in Myanmar's ongoing civil war, citing a last-minute government warning that hosting the event may break the law.
In 2023, independent short film group and festival organiser Phone Made Good Film cancelled the screening of a nine-minute film Wake In Silence. The group said that OFNAA refused to issue a permit for the scheduled screening, allegedly because the film showed a flag containing 'potentially seditious intent.'
