China’s film regulator announced Wednesday that it will ban actors, directors, and other industry personnel from the Chinese mainland from attending this year’s Golden Horse Film Festival in Taipei.
Founded in 1962, the Golden Horse Film Festival recognizes the world’s top Chinese-language films. The festival is scheduled to take place on Nov. 23, meaning it will coincide this year with the mainland’s Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Film Festival in the city of Xiamen, Fujian province.
At last year’s Golden Horse awards, the best actor and best picture prizes were both awarded to movies from the Chinese mainland. However, the event was embroiled in controversy after a Taiwanese director who claimed the prize for best documentary expressed hopes that the island would someday be recognized as independent during her acceptance speech.
Last week, China’s culture and tourism ministry announced that it had suspended travel permits for individual tourists to Taiwan “in light of current cross-strait relations.” (Image: VCG)