China to Tighten Restrictions on Internet-distributed Microfilms

The Chinese government has started to tighten restrictions on internet-distributed microfilms. China’s online video hosts will now require video creators to register their identities and report their videos before posting in an effort to restrict online content like independent microfilms. As an alternative to the mainstream Chinese film industry, online microfilms are often low-budget, short films distributed on platforms like Youku. While sometimes containing racy content, many microfilm creators believe that the main purpose of the regulations is political. “The only purpose of such a policy I think is to affect the creativity of microfilm-making, and bring it into the regular censorship system so as to carry out ideological control of this gray area of online video,” said online filmmaker Wei Jiangang, whose work often includes queer themes that don’t appear on China’s silver screens.