Drop Uighur film, China tells movie festival

Last Updated: Wed, 15 Jul 2009 07:58:00 +1000

Organisers of an Australian film festival say they have been pressured by the Chinese government to remove a documentary about an exiled dissident.

The film by Australian director Jeff Daniels, called The 10 Conditions of Love, tells the rags-to-riches story of millionaire businesswoman Rebiya Kadeer, a member of the Uighur ethnic group.

Ms Kadeer was one of China's richest women but is now in exile in the United States.

Richard Moore, director of the Melbourne International Film Festival, says an official from the Chinese consulate rang him last Friday asking him to withdraw the documentary.

"Then (they) went on to list at great length . . . the number of so-called crimes that Rebiya Kardeer had committed against China and against humanity," Mr Moore said.

"I have to tell you after about five minutes I fazed out and then again reminded her that there was no way we were going to withdraw the film from the festival and politely put down the phone."

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