Stories about Film from December, 2012
Japan's Independent Film Theaters are Disappearing
One after the other, independent movie theaters are going out of business in Japan. The wave of closing theaters has changed Tokyo's street scenes, people who gathered and spent their time at these old theaters, have lost their place.
Art Quake in Kerala – The Kochi-Muziris Biennale
A three month long international exhibition of contemporary art is being held in Kochi, in the Indian state of Kerala. Keralites in Social Media are involved in discussions about the pros and cons including the controversy surrounding the allocation of state funds for the Kochi-Muziris Biennale.
Veteran Director Raises Curtain on China's Arbitrary Film Censorship Policy
The screening of controversial film V for Vendetta on the state broadcaster China Central Television has stirred up hope for censorship reform in China. On December 15, 2012, 70-year-old film director Xie Fei, a heavyweight in China's film industry and professor at the Beijing Film Academy, published an open letter on his micro-blog, advocating for the replacement of movie censorship with a rating system.
Film Festival on Organic Farming in Japan
The international Film Festival on Organic Farming was held in Satta Hall at Hosei University in Tokyo, December 16, 2012. One participant ama_san [ja] commented on Twitter: Yesterday I went to the International...
Censorship Lift for “V for Vendetta” Shocks China
V for Vendetta, a film produced in 2005 about a near-future dystopian society, previously censored in China, was aired on China Central Television Station (CCTV) Channel Six on December 14, 2012. The screening has caught many people by surprise.
Iran: Tehran Launches Own YouTube
Iran has launched, Mehr (meaning affection in Persian),a video-sharing website to compete against YouTube.
Algerian Solutions to the Film ‘Innocence of Muslims’
In the wake of the anti-Islam film entitled ‘Innocence of Muslims‘, and which was broadcast on YouTube, the Algerian tabloid Chourouk asked its readers in its online edition on how best to respond to repeated attacks on Islam. Some 800 readers responded. The majority of comments have suggested that the best way to react to such repeated provocations is to follow the example of the Prophet (PBUH) and show his true character by putting his legacy into practice in all Muslim countries.
Trinidad & Tobago: What Direction For Creative Industries?
As the government moves to merge various creative entities (film, fashion, theatre, dance, the visual arts and Carnival) under the purview of one company - the Trinidad & Tobago Creative Industries Company (TTCIC) - some local filmmakers are sceptical about the plan, especially since it seems to be going forward without stakeholder consultation.
Kim Kardashian, Tear-Gas and Milkshake in Bahrain
Kim Kardashian was in Bahrain yesterday to open her milkshake shop. Hardline Salafists protested her visit - and were dispersed by police.
Africa is a Woman's Name
MyWeku shares a documentary titled “Africa is a Woman's Name“: Synopsis: The lives of three extraordinary African women from different social levels and origins determined to bring about radical transformations...