Indie films: There's no happy ending yet

• Published date: 10 July 2020
• Publication title: Shanghai Daily

INDEPENDENT and art films have always faced an uphill battle for recognition. The coronavirus outbreak has made it steeper.

As mainstream cinemas remain largely closed in China, private groups that promote and screen independent and art films are also struggling to survive.

A few weeks ago, a public letter published by independent film promoter Directube on its WeChat account caught the attention of art film fans.

In the letter, the group said it intends to shed some of its screening facilities and sell off some equipment to ease its financial burden. It said it would be seeking new facilities because its previous rental contracts have expired.

Directube is known for its role in promoting and sharing information about artistic and independent films. Apart from creating original content on Weibo and WeChat accounts, it has organized screening activities featuring independent films, especially documentaries by young Chinese directors. The directors are frequently invited to attend and discuss their works with audiences.

"These 'communication sessions' were a major attraction of our screening activity," Chen Xiaoran, a co-founder of Directube, told Shanghai Daily. "Audiences get very few opportunities to communicate with film creators except at some film festivals. The feedback directors get from audiences can inspire them in their future creations."

Unlike commercial films with easy access to general audiences through cinemas, artistic and independent films are usually aimed at a niche market. They may be serious and experimental in their esthetic expression. They are not designed for mass appeal.

It's hard for independent filmmakers, especially those focusing on social causes and marginalized populations, to gauge audience reaction. They usually lack the resources to promote their films, and some of their works are yet to gain a public screening certificate issued by the China Film Administration.

"All directors want their works to reach audiences, no matter how niche a market," said Chen. "Also, film fans have the right to choices beyond mainstream cinemas. We want to open a new window for them."

Chen majored in broadcasting in college and joined a finance radio channel after graduation. Later, while working as a film producer, he befriended Shen Hancheng, an independent filmmaker and founder of Directube.

"I first noticed Shen years ago when I was reading his film reviews on the website Douban," said Chen. "I was also impressed by his documentary about his father...