1. Program
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  3. Film Series
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  5. From the Margins of China
April 2023

From the Margins of China

An exploration of uncelebrated narratives from contemporary China
Curated by Tang Xuedan (Echo)

In Chinese, the character “游” (yóu) has multiple connotations - it means to swim, to float or be fluid; to travel or to stroll; to be idle or groundless. It can also mean to move from one place to another and is therefore closely connected with migration and diasporas. Taking yóu as a point of departure, From the Margins of China explores subcultural and marginalized communities living in contemporary China, bringing together documentaries that cast a light on unique yet often unaddressed voices, experiences and narratives of yóu mín (roughly translated as nomad). Whether rural migrant worker, live-streamer, or ethnic minority, these films celebrate the subjectivity and stories of communities existing on the fringes of society. Together with the accompanying discussions, this series asks - how have different communities navigated the vast socio-economic transformations in China? What have they gained and what have they lost? What futures await them?

Tang Xuedan (Echo) is a Berlin-based cultural worker and film curator from Chengdu, China. Before moving to Berlin, she studied arts and cultural management in London and then worked as a documentary producer in Beijing. She initiated C/LENS in 2022, a project which reflects her strong intersectional interest and ongoing research into cinema studies, feminism, and socially engaged practices.

Funded by Berliner Senatsverwaltung für Kultur und Europa

The Two Lives of Li Ermao

The Two Lives of Li Ermao

二毛
Jia Yuchuan, China 2019, 90 Min., OV with English subs, DCP
Fortune Teller

Fortune Teller

算命
Xu Tong, China 2010, 157 Min., OV with English subs, digital
Dancing in the Wind

Dancing in the Wind

红毛皇帝
Yue Ting, China 2018, 101 Min., OV with English subs, digital
We Were SMART

We Were SMART

杀马特我爱你
Li Yifan, China 2020, 125 Min., OV with English subs, digital