China asked New Zealand film festival not to screen West PH Sea documentary

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The Consulate-General of the People’s Republic of China in Auckland had requested the removal of the documentary Food Delivery: Fresh from the West Philippine Seas from the Doc Edge Festival in New Zealand, the festival organizers confirmed on Saturday, July 5.

In a statement [...] Doc Edge Festival confirmed it had received a formal request from the Chinese consulate, which claimed the film was “rife with disinformation and false propaganda” and served as “a political tool for the Philippines.”

The Chinese government urged the festival not to screen the film “in the interest of public accountability and China–New Zealand relations,” citing New Zealand Prime Minister Luxon’s recent visit to China.

Doc Edge Festival rejected China’s request and stood by its “independence and curatorial freedom.”

“Doc Edge stands by our kaupapa (principles) and the festival’s independence and curatorial freedom,” the organizers said.

“We are, however, happy to present the perspective of the Chinese Consulate-General in the interest of transparency and fairness. We encourage audiences to seek out their own sources, view the film, and engage in open conversation and dialogue,” it added.

On Thursday, July 3, the Filipino documentary bagged the Tides of Change award in the Doc Edge Festival.

Earlier, the Doc Edge Festival had referred to the documentary as “a banned film that must be seen.”

Just two days before the Puregold Cinepanalo 2025 film festival was set to open on March 14, the documentary was pulled from the lineup. It was originally slated to be one of the festival’s eight featured films.

The documentary directed by Baby Ruth Villarama follows the struggles of Filipino fisherfolk, the Philippine Coast Guard, as well as some Navy personnel, in delivering food and aid to communities, all while defending the tensions that arise in the waters.

The Doc Edge Festival is an Oscar-qualifying film festival that was established in 2005. For 20 years, it has dedicated itself to spotlighting excellence in documentary storytelling.

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New Zealand is among the many countries that have consistently supported the Philippines in calling China out for harassing Philippine vessels in the West Philippine Sea. In late April 2025, Manila and Wellington signed a Status of the Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA) which makes it easier for the militaries of either countries to access each others’ territories for exercises, disaster response, or other defense reasons.