Poster of Upstream Photo: Weibo

Limited-time screenings and pre-sales recently began for Chinese director Xu Zheng's new film Upstream. However, one cinema issued a statement on Monday announcing its refusal to screen the film, which sparked widespread discussion online.

The cinema stated that this decision is part of fulfilling their commitment made in 2020 regarding the online premiere of the film Lost in Russia by Xu.

During the 2020 Chinese New Year period, many films such as Lost in Russia, Detective Chinatown 3, and Vanguard were pulled from theaters due to the COVID-19 pandemic. These films were then released online in collaboration with a streaming platform, free for viewers.

The Zhejiang film industry condemned the online premiere of Lost in Russia, accusing it of violating industry norms, which led to further opposition from cinemas.

In their statement, the cinema explained that they will not screen Upstream but will continue to show other films as scheduled. The cinema emphasized that although their impact on a single film's box office is minimal, they believe in upholding industry rules and fairness.

They said the decision to refuse to screen Upstream is rooted in their respect for industry regulations, and they are not calling for support for this decision.

The statement also referenced the 2020 incident where the cinema, along with others, condemned the online premiere of Lost in Russia, asserting that it undermined industry rules.

The statement sparked widespread discussion among audiences and industry professionals.

With Upstream yet to be officially released, it remains to be seen how Xu and his team will respond to the controversy.

Global Times