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The Star
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Star
Filipino director pushes back after Beijing tries to block South China Sea film
MANILA: A Filipino documentary chronicling military resupply missions and fishermen's daily struggles in the disputed South China Sea has sparked diplomatic tension after China attempted to halt the film's initial screening. Directed by acclaimed film-maker Baby Ruth Villarama and produced by Manila-based Voyage Studios, the film Food Delivery: Fresh from the West Philippine Sea was initially set to premiere in March at the PureGold CinePanalo Film Festival in Manila. The title uses the term Filipinos officially call the portion of the South China Sea that lies within the Philippines' 200-nautical-mile Exclusive Economic Zone, but which Beijing insists falls under its control. The film was quietly dropped from the Manila festival line-up due to what organisers cited as 'external factors'. No official reason was given, but Villarama's team believes political pressure from China played a role. 'It was clear these efforts weren't about artistic dialogue. They were about control. The Chinese government has long used economic pressure to influence institutions into pushing a single narrative,' Villarama told The Straits Times. 'But here's the thing: We've listened to their stories. We buy their products. We've watched their films and respect their culture. I just hope they have the same courage to listen and to watch ours this time.' Despite the controversy, the Philippine premiere is set for July 27 at a popular shopping mall in Manila. The government's board of censors had rated the film suitable for general viewing with parental guidance since March, days before it was pulled from the local film festival. The film made its international debut on June 30 at the Doc Edge Festival in New Zealand, where it screened to positive reviews despite a formal protest from the Chinese Consulate-General in Auckland. Screenings in Wellington and Christchurch have been scheduled for later in July. In a letter to festival organisers before the screening, which was later posted online, the Chinese Consulate-General called the film 'rife with disinformation and false propaganda' and urged the organisers to refrain from screening it, saying it would 'mislead' the public and harm China-New Zealand relations. Doc Edge rejected the request, affirming its commitment to 'independence and curatorial freedom'. Food Delivery won the Tides of Change award, which the festival grants to films that highlight global issues, such as conflict, human rights and climate justice. The Straits Times has reached out to the Chinese government for comment. The controversy only drew more attention to Food Delivery, which offers rarely seen civilian and military perspectives from the Spratly Islands, a region in the disputed sea claimed by the Philippines, China, Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and Taiwan. Told through the lens of Filipino troops delivering supplies to remote military outposts and fishermen facing Chinese harassment at sea, the film seeks to humanise an issue often framed in technical or political terms. 'It's about so much more than the West Philippine Sea. It's about how food, a basic human need, becomes a language for connection, resistance and care,' said Villarama. 'And in that way, it becomes something every audience can understand – Filipino, Chinese or anyone who's ever craved meaning in the middle of chaos.' Despite the global attention, Food Delivery has not secured commercial distribution in the Philippines. No major cinema operator has agreed to screen it as tensions between Manila and Beijing simmer on. In general, documentaries rarely reach mainstream cinemas in the country, where commercial chains favour blockbuster fare. Independent film-makers often rely on film festivals, university circuits or grassroots community screenings. Ms Villarama's team has embraced this model, coordinating independent screenings with advocacy groups, schools and film collectives. The documentary will be shown again at the same Manila shopping mall in August, with more community screenings planned after that. Associate Professor Danilo Arao, who teaches journalism at the University of the Philippines (UP), said China's efforts to block the film reflect both media suppression and diplomatic overreach. 'It's not just an issue of media freedom; it's also an issue of overreach on the part of China because they are trying their best to deodorise their image and to control the narrative pertaining to what they claim to be control over the South China Sea, including the West Philippine Sea. So it's deplorable that they're doing that,' he said. Dr Arao believes the Philippine government should be more proactive in defending artists and journalists from foreign political pressure. Villarama said that since reports of China's intervention in New Zealand, some Philippine officials have quietly reached out to her team. 'We're not expecting uniform support from them, especially when geopolitics are involved. But I do hope this film encourages our leaders to defend freedom of expression, and to stand with the people whose lives and labour make that freedom necessary,' she said. Dr Aries Arugay, visiting senior fellow at the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore and chairman of UP's Political Science Department, called China's actions 'undue intrusion into the internal affairs of another country'. He said Beijing increasingly uses seemingly benign sectors such as trade, art and cultural exchange as tools of influence. 'There are no benign aspects of relationship with China because they can weaponise and use it against the country,' Dr Arugay told ST. He said Food Delivery might not contain direct criticism of China, but its existence contradicts Beijing's tightly managed narrative on the maritime dispute. In April, then Senator Francis Tolentino accused the Chinese Embassy in Manila of running a 'hidden and sinister' disinformation campaign to sway public opinion and discredit critics of Beijing's South China Sea claims. China denied the allegation and has since banned Tolentino from entering the mainland and its territories. Dr Arao and Dr Arugay say Food Delivery's visual storytelling is especially powerful in the Philippines, where television and cinema heavily shape public consciousness. 'A documentary is potent from a Filipino cultural perspective because we are visual as a people. It will penetrate the public consciousness more, so it's threatening to them (China),' said Dr Arugay. The backlash from Beijing has only strengthened Villarama's conviction that her film's message is more urgent than ever. 'The attempts to block the film didn't intimidate us. They clarified our purpose,' she said. 'Food Delivery isn't just about delivering food. It's delivering a message: that Filipinos have had enough. Enough of being pushed aside, erased or told who we are. It's a call to remember who we are, and who we must never become'. - The Straits Times/ANN
Daily Express
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Express
China tries to block West Philippine Sea documentary
China tries to block West Philippine Sea documentary MANILA: The tensions between Manila and Beijing over the West Philippine Sea continue to brew after China asked a New Zealand documentary festival to refrain from screening a film about the flashpoint waters. The documentary, 'Food Delivery: Fresh from the West Philippine Sea', won the Tides of Change Award in New Zealand's Doc Edge Festival. Advertisement The documentary focused on the work of Filipino fisherfolk and coast guard in the West Philippine Sea. In the name of transparency, Doc Edge posted China's appeal to them. The Consulate-General of People's Republic of China in Auckland said that the film festival could 'mislead' the public by showing the movie. SPONSORED CONTENT 'We hope that you will act in the interest of public and China-New Zealand relations accountability by refraining from screening this documentary,' China said. However, Doc Edge said that it would remain independent. Advertisement 'Doc Edge stands by our Kaupapa and the festival's independence and curatorial freedom,' they said. Following news of China's request, Philippine officials declared their support for the film, saying that it asserted the Philippines' rightful claim on the flashpoint waters. Advertisement The Philippine Coast Guard's (PCG) spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea has condemned this move from China, calling it intimidation. PCG Commodore Jay Tarriela said that China is continuing to assert its 'authoritarian influence'. 'This isn't just a cinematic endeavour—it's a bold exposé that shines a spotlight on a critical geopolitical flashpoint, revealing the stark realities faced by those on the front lines of this dispute,' Tarriela said in a social media post. 'China's response? A predictable threat and pressure aimed at burying the truth before it can reach a global audience. However, this documentary film, along with New Zealand's refusal to back down, threatens to dismantle the carefully constructed narrative that China has peddled to legitimise its overreach,' he added. The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said that they stood by the filmmakers to help defend truth and sovereignty. 'The AFP supports efforts that shed light on the realities faced by Filipino fisherfolk and maritime defenders in the West Philippine Sea,' the AFP said. Directed by Baby Ruth Villarama, Doc Edge called the documentary 'a banned film that must be seen.' In March, 'Food Delivery: Fresh from the West Philippine Sea' was removed from the PureGold CinePanalo Film Festival due to alleged 'external factors.' Months later, the documentary film won big at Doc Edge, which is an Oscar-qualifying film festival. This means that the documentary film may be considered for an Academy Award. China has continuously encroached upon Philippine territory throughout the years, despite a 2016 ruling from the Permanent Court of Arbitration that quashed China's nine-dash line claim. The documentary tells the stories of local fishermen, the national Coast Guard, and the Navy as they work in the South China Sea – with a particular focus on the area around the Scarborough Shoal. Contained within the Philippines' Exclusive Economic Zone, China's had de-facto control of it since 2012 and has refused to accept an international ruling that said its claim over almost the entirety of the South China Sea has no legal basis. University of Otago senior lecturer in politics Nicholas Khoo said there is 'absolutely no ambiguity' and the Scarborough Shoal is 'Filipino territory'. 'The challenge is that China doesn't respect the Filipino position, nor does it respect the international legal issue that is at stake here.' He said the situation 'underlines the importance of New Zealand standing up for the international legal order' and for it to continue to 'reassert our interest in freedom of navigation', adding that 'there should not be an aggressive use of force to attempt to solve issues'.
Filipino Times
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Filipino Times
China urges New Zealand festival to drop Filipino documentary on West Philippine Sea
Chinese officials have called on the organizers of the Doc Edge Festival in New Zealand to cancel future screenings of Food Delivery: Fresh from the West Philippine Sea, a Filipino documentary that tackles maritime tensions in the disputed waters. Directed by Baby Ruth Villarama, the film premiered in Auckland on June 30 after it was pulled from a local film festival in the Philippines due to unspecified 'external factors.' The Chinese Consulate in Auckland described the film as 'politically motivated' and 'misleading.' 'The documentary… is rife with disinformation and false propaganda, serving as a political tool for the Philippines to pursue illegitimate claims in the South China Sea. Its screening would severely mislead the public and send the wrong message internationally,' the Consulate said in an email sent to festival organizers. Doc Edge general manager Rachael Penman rejected the request and affirmed the festival's commitment to supporting independent storytelling and protecting freedom of expression. 'We programmed a film that we felt was really important to be seen and brings up a conversation with so many people. I hope that everyone does go and see this now, and has their own opportunity to make their own decisions about this film,' she said. The documentary highlights the experiences of Filipino fishermen, along with the resupply mission of the Philippine Coast Guard and Navy in the Scarborough Shoal, an area located within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone but also claimed by China. The film received the Tides of Change Award under the Best Festival Category in the Academy Award-qualifying film festival.
1News
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- 1News
Chinese consulate asks NZ film festival to can Philippine doco
Chinese officials have asked that a Filipino documentary be removed from future screenings at the New Zealand Doc Edge Festival, saying doing so would be in the interest of Chinese-New Zealand relations. The documentary, Food Delivery: Fresh from the West Philippine Sea, had its world premiere on June 30 at The Capitol Cinema in Auckland — after being withdrawn from screenings in its home country. The film was scheduled to premiere at the Puregold CinePalo Film Festival in Manila was pulled from the line-up days before it aired over what the film creators described as "external factors" earlier this year. It was then selected by New Zealand's Doc Edge Festival — the first to be able to do so. But, this week, festival organisers were asked to do as the Filipino counterparts had and cut the doco from its schedule. In correspondence seen by 1News, the Chinese Consulate requested the festival refrain from all future screenings — if it wanted to act in the "interest of public and China-New Zealand relations". The correspondence pointed out that New Zealand Prime Minister's Christopher Luxon's recent visit to China had been "fruitful". ADVERTISEMENT Festival organisers said the written request followed several calls to ticketing staff and board members, requesting that the screenings be pulled. "The documentary... is rife with disinformation and false propaganda, serving as a political tool for Philippines to pursue illegitimate claims in the South China Sea. Its screening would severely mislead the public and send the wrong message internationally," the email from the Chinese Consulate read. "This documentary disregarded history and facts, and is designed to amplify the Philippines' wrong position on the issue concerning the South China Sea and deliberately distort and hype up the maritime situation." Doc Edge general manager Rachael Penman said they've refused the request and willingly stand by all their filmmakers. "We are a voice for independent filmmakers," she said. "We programmed a film that we felt was really important to be seen and brings up a conversation with so many people. I hope that everyone does go and see this now, and has their own opportunity to make their own decisions about this film." 1News has reached out to both the Chinese Embassy and the Chinese Consulate via email and phone with questions around its specific concerns with the film and why it was appropriate to exert political pressure in such a way. While it didn't address those specific questions, the Chinese Embassy said as a "matter of principle we hope that publicly promoted content would reflect realities rather than spreading mis or dis-information". ADVERTISEMENT It also called for disputes to be peacefully resolved and expressed its desire for "countries outside the region to play a constructive role in this regard instead of doing the opposite". The Philippine Embassy declined to comment other than to say "it is aware" of the situation. Directed by Filipino filmmaker Baby Ruth Villarama, the tells the stories of local fishermen, the national Coast Guard, and the Navy as they work in the South China Sea – with a particular focus on the area around the Scarborough Shoal. Contained within the Philippines' Exclusive Economic Zone, China's had de-facto control of it since 2012 and has refused to accept an international ruling that said its claim over almost the entirety of the South China Sea has no legal basis. University of Otago senior lecturer in politics Nicholas Khoo said there is "absolutely no ambiguity" and the Scarborough Shoal is "Filipino territory". "The challenge is that China doesn't respect the Filipino position, nor does it respect the international legal issue that is at stake here." He said the situation "underlines the importance of New Zealand standing up for the international legal order" and for it to continue to "reassert our interest in freedom of navigation", adding that "there should not be an aggressive use of force to attempt to solve issues". ADVERTISEMENT Khoo said the film clearly contradicts China's narrative and that will be why officials are working to prevent its screening. New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded on behalf of government officials and said it fully supports freedom of expression. In relation to the territorial disputes, it said New Zealand does not take a position on individual claims in the South China Sea, but did want disputes resolved peacefully via diplomacy and in accordance with international law, in particular the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. In China the film has also been heavily criticised. Commentators with its state-run network described it as revealing a "pattern of selective storytelling that serves broader political interests" and a "propaganda piece" that "dodges the gritty geopolitics of the region and the realities of the territorial issues and maritime disputes". Villarama told 1News today she had deliberately chosen to shine the lens on the people rather than the politics. "Because we really want to celebrate us as people, without politicising the issue. We want to diplomatically reach out and share our personal stories, because the more personal we go, the more authentic we can be with others." She said she held no animosity towards China, and invited those opposed to her documentary to go and watch "so they can know the truth about our people". ADVERTISEMENT "We don't have any agenda. There is no 'Western influence'."
Filipino Times
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Filipino Times
Filipino documentary on WPS wins at Doc Edge Festival in New Zealand
A Filipino documentary highlighting the maritime tensions in the West Philippine Sea has gained international recognition after winning an award at the 2025 Doc Edge Festival in New Zealand. 'Food Delivery: Fresh from the West Philippine Sea,' directed by Baby Ruth Villarama and produced by Voyage Studios, received the Tides of Change Award under the Best Festival Category in the Academy Award-qualifying film festival. The documentary follows the high-risk missions of Filipino fishermen and personnel from the Philippine Coast Guard and Navy as they deliver essential supplies to military outposts in the West Philippine Sea, an area within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone that remains under pressure from China's expansive territorial claims. In a statement on Facebook, Voyage Studios dedicated the award to those safeguarding Philippine sovereignty in the disputed waters. 'This is for every Filipino defending the West Philippine Sea. In the face of silence and fear, we carry the truth and now the world hears us. The journey has just begun. May more people see our fight,' the post read. Doc Edge, short for Documentary Edge, is an internationally acclaimed documentary festival and a leading platform for non-fiction storytelling in the Asia-Pacific region. Held annually in cities across New Zealand and online, the festival showcases films that challenge perspectives, inform audiences, and inspire change.
