Latest news with #Queerpanorama
South China Morning Post
21-02-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Pro-Palestine speech sparked right-wing threats, Hong Kong director Jun Li says
Hong Kong director Jun Li Jun-shuo has said he received threats and insults from German right-wingers after reading out a pro-Palestine speech by an Iranian actor at the Berlin International Film Festival, which triggered a police probe. He also told the Post that he was not worried about his safety, adding that he planned to watch the German election on Sunday and stay for the entire festival, where his latest film Queerpanorama premiered. 'It will definitely have an impact on the promotion of the film. I believe that the truth will become clearer as it is debated, and I believe that people who hold an open attitude will understand,' he said on Friday. 'I condemn any use of violence against civilians and the systematic injustice that endangers human life.' Videos of Li reading out the speech at the festival last Saturday were recorded and uploaded online. According to German media, the speech was by Erfan Shekarriz, one of the actors in Li's film and who had boycotted the festival, commonly known as the Berlinale. German police confirmed on Thursday they were looking into the incident, but it was not immediately clear whether Li was also under investigation.
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Queerpanorama' Director Reported to Berlin Police After Delivering Pro-Palestinian Speech, but Film Reps Say He Has Not Been Contacted About Investigation
Hong Kong director Jun Li has prompted a small political storm at the Berlin Film Festival, reportedly sparking a police probe after making a pro-Palestinian speech during the presentation of his film 'Queerpanorama.' While presenting 'Queerpanorama,' which premiered in Berlin's Panorama section on Saturday, the director made a speech on behalf of the film's protagonist Erfan Shekarriz, whom he said boycotted the festival this year in protest against the perception that the event is not supportive of Palestinians. That perception was prompted by the backlash regarding pro-Palestine statements during last year's closing ceremony. More from Variety 'Timestamp' Review: A Beautifully Observed Ukrainian Doc on the Perils and Pleasures of Schooltime in Wartime Berlin Film Festival Takeaways: Timothée Chalamet Brings the Star Power, but Market Remains Sluggish Michel Franco, 'Olmo' Director Fernando Eimbcke Reteam for Mexico City-Set Feature 'Moscas' (EXCLUSIVE) Berlinale's new artistic director Tricia Tuttle told Variety in a statement that the festival 'understands that an individual with no connection to the Berlinale has filed a complaint' after the speech. As such, 'Berlin police are required to investigate any potential accusations. To our knowledge, at the moment no criminal proceedings have been opened, and the Berlinale will be in close contact to find out more,' Tuttle continued, adding that the festival 'is concerned about the welfare of visiting filmmakers' and has been 'pursuing information from the Berlin police about the current situation.' The U.S.-born Tuttle said the festival previously explained it was 'committed to protecting freedom of expression within the framework of German law' and has 'invested a great deal of time in helping our visiting filmmakers to understand potentially legally sensitive language.' On Thursday, German police reportedly confirmed they were looking into the incident, but it was not immediately clear whether Li was also under investigation. A publicist for 'Queerpanorama' told Variety that 'neither the director nor the actor have been contacted by anyone with regards to the investigation.' The speech made by Li on Shekarriz's behalf ended with: 'As you watch this film, I call for everyone in this room to honor the innocent Palestinian children, mothers, fathers and our siblings, who have lost their lives and livelihoods to the German-backed occupation since 1948 … from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.' Prior to fest kicking off it 75th edition, organizers had clarified its position on freedom of expression, including when it comes to showing solidarity with Palestine, and warned festivalgoers to use 'particular care' with the phrase 'from the river to the sea' as 'there have been cases where it has been prosecuted' in Berlin. The phrase has been used by politicians on both sides of the conflict to advocate for a single state in the region. The slogan has also been used by Hamas, the Palestinian terrorist organization responsible for the Oct. 7 attack. Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Grammy Predictions, From Beyoncé to Kendrick Lamar: Who Will Win? Who Should Win? What's Coming to Netflix in February 2025
South China Morning Post
18-02-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
In Queerpanorama, Hong Kong's Jun Li has made his boldest film yet
Ennui is a feeling that can envelop anyone, however creative they are. 'Every day I wake up I think to myself, 'My life is so plain and joyless,'' says Hong Kong filmmaker Jun Li Jun-shuo. 'I mean, people of my age, they do a lot of different stuff. They do pottery. They take up new hobbies. They go hiking. They have this wonderful life on their social media. And every day I wake up … I don't know what I should do today.' If this sounds like he is bemoaning his lot, he is not. When we meet for this interview, the 33-year-old writer-director is sitting in the famed Palast at the Berlin International Film Festival, dressed snappily in a light pink jumper. His third movie, the black-and-white miniature piece Queerpanorama , has just been unveiled, and the buzz about it is already building; trade paper Variety called the film 'sexy' after its explicit trailer was released ahead of the festival. The film concerns an unnamed young man from Hong Kong, played by Jayden Cheung Dik-man, who has one-off sexual encounters with male foreigners; he does not discriminate – Welsh, Thai, and German men are among his hookups. It is an idea that came from Li's own life. 'Because I am a gay director in Hong Kong … [when] I am on the hookup apps, the locals would know that I'm a director,' he explains. 'So to have simply casual sex … that is why I tend to meet foreigners.'
