The Unfolding Story of the IndieChina Film Festival: A Canceled Vision of Independent Cinema
In a poignant turn of events, the inaugural IndieChina Film Festival, set to spotlight independent Chinese cinema in New York City, has been suspended just two days before its opening on November 8, 2025. The festival’s director, Zhu Rikun, had meticulously planned the event for months, only to face a heartbreaking cancellation due to alarming reports of harassment against participating filmmakers and their families.
Zhu, who has dedicated nearly two decades to promoting independent cinema in China, expressed his frustration and disappointment as he arrived daily at the vacant venue, using the space as a platform for protest. “It was not the film festival that I prepared for,” he told NBC News, a sentiment echoed by many in the independent film community.