ShanghaiPRIDE Film Festival History
ShanghaiPRIDE has always included film screenings as part of its cultural program. It goes without saying that visible queer characters and stories on screen contribute enormously to the progress of rights and acceptance for LGBT people.
In China, however, film takes a particularly important role. Films like East Palace, West Palace and Lan Yu mark specific milestones in public awareness. Activists like Fan Popo and Ziʼen Cui are foremost filmmakers, and work to encourage others to pick up cameras. The underground film scene is increas- ing its traction globally, as smaller filmmakers are invited to participate in events in Europe, Asia and North America, piecing together a new under- standing of what queer China is like through cinema art.
The decision was made to relaunch ShanghaiPRIDE Film Festival (ShPFF) in 2015 as a means to support this trend. The program now consists of three strands: screening international queer cinema, a Chinese short film competition and sessions (Q+A and workshops). We also developed partnerships with pan-regional organisations to support growth. 2015 was about establishing the new platform, creating roots so that over the next couple of years, ShPFF can develop into a full fledged forum for local talent.
Festival Coordinators & Programmers
2017: Raymond Phang & Wing Shen
2016: Matthew Baren
2015: Matthew Baren & Alvin Li
2014: Luc Lu & Morten Skurken Mechlenborg Nørulf
2013: Raymond Phang
2012: Raymond Phang
2011: Raymond Phang
2010: Kenneth Tan
2009: Kenneth Tan
