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Epoch Times
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Epoch Times
Documentary ‘State Organs' Screens at Seoul Film Festival Despite Pressure to Cancel
The award-winning documentary 'State Organs' was screened at a film festival in South Korea's capital on May 30, after organizers were forced to change venues three times due to ' .' The film exposes a ' harrowing government-run organ harvesting operation ' in China, seven years gathering evidence and interviewing families of victims to complete the documentary. The Seoul Larkspur International Film Festival, an annual event centered on the themes of justice, freedom, and human rights, selected 'State Organs' as its opening film. Other films spotlighting human rights abuses in China and North Korea were also scheduled, with organizers reporting significant pressure from unnamed sources while finalizing the screening list. The festival's opening ceremony was ultimately held at KBS Hall, at the Korean Broadcasting System headquarters in Seoul—but not without obstacles. , one of the event's guest speakers, praised the organizers' perseverance and public support. 'I've seen real hope,' Tae said on stage, addressing the packed hall. 'When I first received the invitation, I had no idea how many people would come.' Related Stories 5/22/2025 5/14/2025 'Although we lack government support and haven't secured major sponsorships or donations, we'll continue to speak out for freedom, justice, and human rights,' Tae added. A former North Korean diplomat who to South Korea in 2016, Tae served in the 21st National Assembly and currently holds the position of Secretary General at the Peaceful Unification Advisory Council, a bipartisan presidential advisory body. Last-Minute Cancellations The Seoul Larkspur International Film Festival team spent a full year preparing for the five-day festival, which was held from May 30 to June 3. Initially, they arranged screenings at CGV, one of Korea's top cinema chains. After CGV pulled out, organizers moved the event to MEGABOX Dongdaemun, another major theater operator. However, on the eve of the festival's opening, MEGABOX unilaterally canceled all screenings, citing the ' ' of the films. This left organizers scrambling to relocate the event at the last minute. Director Calls for Investigation Raymond Zhang, director of 'State Organs,' told The Epoch Times that during screenings in Taiwan last year, his team received hundreds of threats via email and social media and faced online harassment from Chinese Communist Party (CCP)-aligned networks. 'I hope Korean authorities investigate whether Chinese interference was involved in the cancellations and bring the truth to light,' Zhang said. (L-R) Panel host Roman Balmakov, film director Raymond Zhang, and Wang Zhiyuan, director of the World Organization to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong, speak during a panel discussion after a screening of "State Organs" at Village East by Angelika in New York City on Nov. 9, 2024. Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times 'This Crime Must Be Stopped' Min Kyung-wook, a former Korean lawmaker and presidential spokesperson, shared his reaction after viewing the documentary. The 'testimonies of families struggling in pain, the firsthand accounts of doctors involved in [extracting organs], and the confessions of police and soldiers who once carried out persecution and torture left me so shocked that I wished none of it were true,' he told The Epoch Times. Min condemned the CCP's forced organ harvesting of mainly Falun Gong practitioners, calling it 'a crime against humanity.' 'It's almost beyond belief that such atrocities are being systematically carried out to suppress faith, elevated to the level of state-sponsored, industrial-scale operations,' he said. 'I hope the truth reaches not just the Korean people, but the global community—so these crimes can be stopped as soon as possible.' 'We must stop this brutal slaughter from continuing. We must pay attention. We must act,' Lee told The Epoch Times after watching the film. 'If Koreans Don't Wake Up, We'll Become Another China' Dayner Kim, a well-known South Korean YouTuber with over 288,000 subscribers, also spoke out after attending the State Organs screening. He said the CCP's persecution of Falun Gong and organ harvesting is widely known, but the film's focus on a single family presents that reality with a depth that's emotionally devastating. 'It left me with a profound sense of grief and solidarity,' Kim said. Kim also condemned the sudden cancellation of multiple human rights films at MEGABOX. 'There are forces in South Korea working in tandem with the CCP to block any content that criticizes or exposes its crimes. That's why we're seeing sponsorships withdrawn, venues revoked, and films banned,' Kim said in an interview after the screening. Other films affected by the last-minute cancellation include ' ,' ' ,' and ' .' The first two films depict the CCP's persecution of Falun Gong, a spiritual faith, in China, and the third film is a documentary on Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement in 2019. He added a pointed warning: 'If the Korean people aren't outraged—if we don't wake up—this country could become another China, no different from a nation under CCP rule.' Lee, from the University of Ulsan, expressed deep frustration over the obstacles the film faced in being screened, calling it 'painful and infuriating.' 'What kind of sovereign nation are we if a film can't even be shown freely?' he asked. 'We're seeing clear evidence that the CCP has deeply infiltrated many sectors in South Korea—politics, the arts, academia. It's heartbreaking.' While condemning the CCP for its interference in South Korea, Lee reminds people to distinguish Chinese people from the CCP. 'The film draws a clear distinction between the two—that's what makes this film so meaningful,' Lee said. 'The Chinese people must be freed from the CCP's oppression, and South Korea must break free from its influence,' Lee added. Organ Tourism and the Urgency of Exposure A 2017 by South Korea's TV Chosun revealed that with low domestic organ donation rates, only 10 percent of the 32,000 patients in need ever receive a transplant. As a result, many Koreans seek quicker options in China, where wait times are shorter and access is easier—despite growing concerns over the source of those organs. State Organs is now featured on the website of Doctors Against Forced Organ Harvesting ( ), an organization founded by medical professionals to expose and end forced organ harvesting practices. The film is no longer available on the internet. DAFOH describes forced organ harvesting as a 'crime against humanity' and works globally to promote ethical medical standards and protect human dignity. Cindy Song, one of the producers of 'State Organs,' emphasized the importance of the film's message for Korean audiences. 'The victims in the film are from Qingdao, which is just across the sea from South Korea,' she said. 'I believe it's important for the Korean public to hear this story.' An Jing contributed to this report.
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Somerset County 6th grader places in national handwriting contest
SOMERSET COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ) — Three Pennsylvania students have placed in the 34th annual Zaner-Bloser National Handwriting contest. Each year approximately 80,000 students in K-6 grade participate in the national contest in the hopes of becoming a regional winner. This year there were 28 regional winners and three of them are from right here in the Commonwealth. Penn State students organize pirate-themed event for cancer survivors in State College Here are Pennsylvania winners: Somerset County Raymond Zhang (Grade 6) St. Peter Catholic School Luzerne County Kendall Grabinski (Grade 5) Lehman-Jackson Elementary School Monroe County Carson Che (Grade 1) Notre Dame Elementary School Luzerne County's student, Kendall Gradinski, was also named as a Grand National Champion. Congratulations to all three Pennsylvania students, they've all made their schools very proud. For the contest, students in grades K-2 submitted a print submission and students in 3-6 submitted a cursive submission. Each is required to write the sentence, 'The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog,' as it uses each letter in the alphabet. From there, judges grade the submissions on shape, size, spacing and slant. Winners can receive cash prizes and educational materials for their schools. You can learn more about the contest and this year's winners on the Zaner-Bloser website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The winning images of Travel Photographer of the Year 2024, from infrared photos to iPhone shots
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. The winning photographs of the 2024 International Travel Photographer of the Year awards (TPOTY) have been revealed. The incredible winners range from intimate portraits to atmospheric landscapes, and shots that capture our changing planet and its inhabitants. For the second year in a row, the top award has gone to a talented female photographer, this time Piper Mackay from the US. Shooting in infrared (IR), her portraits of African women are simple and beautifully exquisite in their detail. Piper, who now lives in Kenya, said: 'My philosophy has always been 'Never let the photo dictate your experience, always let the experience dictate the photo.' This award completes my life's passion and work across Africa for more than two decades. There is no higher honor!' Mackay's prize includes a $2,500 / £2,000 / AU$4,000 cash bursary from TPOTY, Radiant Photo imaging software and a portfolio review from top New York agent, Frank Meo. Young TPOTY winner Raymond Zhang receives $625 / £500 / AU$900 and Radiant Photo, while Leonardo Murray and Maksymilian Paczkowski each receive $300 / £250 / AU$495. All three young winners will also win a place on an Eye for the Light photography workshop or a photo critique. TPOTY founder Chris Coe said: 'So many images seen today are over-saturated, over-processed and even AI-generated. A 'less is more' approach is often far more effective. It is therefore refreshing to judge images which demonstrate good camera craft and in-camera creativity – shot full-frame, or close to it, and with very little retouching. 'Piper Mackay's distinctive winning images illustrate this 'less is more' ideal well. They are beautifully composed, celebrating both indigenous women and wildlife on the African savanna. The use of black-and-white, with a camera converted to shoot infrared (IR), allows us to absorb the details and atmosphere which good monochrome conveys so well. Her images have an immediate impact, but the intricate detail and atmosphere captured is also eye-catching and highly engaging.' As well as celebrating established photographers, TPOTY also celebrates the potential stars of the future through the Young TPOTY awards. Receiving the 2024 title of Young Photographer of the Year is 14-year-old Raymond Zhang, for his portfolio of an old steam train and its drivers, photographed at work in the heart of the action. Amateur and professional photographers from over 150 countries submitted more than 20,000 photographs to the 2024 competition. The winning shots will first go on display at The Banbury Museum and Galleries in Banbury, England, from March 29 to July 07. TPOTY will also be showcased at Xposure in the UAE. Another exhibition will follow in Changsha, Hunan Province, China in mid-June. Below is a selection of my favorites, and all the winners can be seen online. Winner – Young Travel Photographer of the Year 2024"Sandaoling coal mine, Hami city, Xinjiang province, China; I took this picture during the workers' short break. I could only take a snapshot with my phone since they really didn't have much break time during their work. In the background, you can see the red traditional artwork which symbolizes Chinese New Year. Although the workers had to be at this harsh site and not with their family, they remained positive toward life." Winner – One Shot: Women in World Culture "The Día de los Muertos in Oaxaca, Mexico is a deeply spiritual and culturally rich celebration of life and death. The elderly woman sits contemplatively among the graves adorned with bright orange marigolds, candles, and personal mementos. Her expression reflects a mixture of sorrow and peace, perhaps as she communes with the spirits of her loved ones. The warm glow of candlelight illuminates the scene, creating a sacred and intimate atmosphere." Winner – Wildlife, Nature and Underwater Portfolio "Crocodiles have a very low profile above the water line once they are swimming, in order to keep their presence well hidden from their prey. For a photographer trying to achieve a split shot – half above the water, half below – with a crocodile is quite the challenge. I wanted this powerful beast's eye to just pop out above the waterline and had to take many photos like this to eventually achieve this image." Winner – Faces, People and Cultures Portfolio "Two Wauga elders stand together, among the very few who remain as guardians of their tribe's traditions. Their weathered faces, marked by deep wrinkles, reflect a lifetime of wisdom and resilience. Adorned with intricate feathered headdresses and covered in black mud, they represent a culture at risk of fading. "The elder in the foreground gazes thoughtfully, bearing the responsibility of preserving their legacy. Behind him, the second elder mirrors the same quiet strength, their shared presence a symbol of the community's enduring bonds. This powerful image captures the fragility of their cultural rituals, reminding us of the importance of safeguarding traditions before they are lost forever." Inspired? Take a look at our guides to the best travel cameras, the best cameras for wildlife photography, and the best cameras for landscape photography.
