Page Reader AI | How queer film collective thrives under the radar in Shanghai, and its soft power

How queer film collective thrives under the radar in Shanghai, and its soft power | South China Morning Post

AI Summary Hide AI Generated Summary

Weibo Backtrack and Increased LGBT Visibility

A recent attempt by Weibo, China's Twitter equivalent, to censor homosexual content resulted in a significant online backlash, ultimately forcing a reversal of the policy. This event has heightened public awareness of LGBT issues in China.

Cinemq Documentary and Shanghai's Drag Scene

The Shanghai-based queer film collective, Cinemq, is capitalizing on this increased visibility by releasing its first documentary, Extravaganza, which focuses on Shanghai's thriving drag scene.

Cinemq's Growth and Impact

Established in 2015, Cinemq has grown considerably, hosting monthly film screenings and underground parties for the LGBT community despite increasing restrictions on LGBT media and activism. It provides a platform for LGBT individuals to engage with thought-provoking content and see their stories represented on screen.

Shanghai's Supportive Underground Arts Scene

Cinemq thrives within Shanghai's dynamic underground arts scene, fueled by the city's influx of young professionals in creative industries. The city's relatively liberal environment allows groups like Cinemq to operate.

We located an Open Access version of this article, legally shared by the author or publisher. Open It

Public awareness of the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) community in China is higher than ever thanks to an abortive attempt this month by Weibo, China’s answer to Twitter, to bar homosexual content. An outcry from internet users sympathetic to the LGBT cause forced a U-turn.

Shanghai-based queer film collective Cinemq hopes to ride that wave of support as it launches its first documentary, Extravaganza, which explores Shanghai’s booming drag scene.

Since launching in 2015, Cinemq has gone from strength to strength, and attracts a vibrant community of LGBT creatives to its monthly film screenings and underground parties despite ever tighter restrictions on LGBT media and activism.

British filmmaker Matthew Baren, who helped found Cinemq, says he saw it as an alternative to the more mainstream Shanghai Pride Film Festival, and a forum for LGBTs to discuss thought-provoking ideas in a fun and inclusive way.

“It’s great because you’re creating a space, whether you realise it or not, for people to see their narratives on screen,” says Baren.

Cinemq, which is entirely volunteer-run, benefits hugely from Shanghai’s vibrant underground arts scene, which has flourished thanks to an influx of young people taking jobs in the city’s creative industries.