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