The Chinese government has told local media not to air next month’s Oscars ceremony and asked them to play down coverage of the awards, after a documentary on the Hong Kong protests was nominated and amid concern over the political views of Best Director contender Chloe Zhao.
Do Not Split, nominated for the best short documentary, depicts the anti-Beijing demonstrations that took place in Hong Kong in mid-2019.
The Communist Party’s propaganda department issued the order to all media outlets, said the people, declining to be identified given the sensitivity of the issue.
Outlets were told that Oscars coverage should focus on awards that are not seen as controversial, according to the people who are aware of the matter.
