Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Melbourne International Film Festival

Unlike Hollywood independent film makers routinely take on the tough current issues of our time. The Melbourne International Film Festival is one of those venues where such films can find an audience.

I was first made aware of the controversy surrounding this years Festival listening to BBC World on the radio. China has protested the screening of a documentary on exiled Uihger leader Rebiya Kadeer, and is even accused of hacking into the festival's computers in retaliation. A real documentary, unlike Al Gore's Oscar winning farce. It also may have caused three Chinese film makers to remove their entries, of their own initiative... or not. Another film was removed because the Festival recieved support from Israel.

Other films featured, "Stolen" and "Balibo."

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