MA Film Studies Public Talk

International co-production of Chinese documentaries has played an increasingly important role in bringing Chinese stories to global audiences and become a site where different narratives about China are negotiated.

This lecture focuses on the historical development of international co-production in Chinese documentaries and maps this trajectory onto a broader discussion of China’s cultural diplomacy practices.

Adopting a version-comparative approach and drawing on the speaker’s own experience in documentary co-production, the lecture examines how different versions of the same material are produced for domestic and international markets. Particular attention is given to the tensions between co-production partners, reflecting differing expectations of how China should be represented.

About the Speaker

Dr Ming Yu is an Associate Professor at the School of Art and Communication, Beijing Normal University (BNU). She is currently a Visiting Scholar at SELCS-CMII, UCL. Dr Yu received her doctorate from BNU in 2011. She worked as a postdoctoral research fellow at the Department of International Politics, Aberystwyth University (2017–2018) and at the School of Art and Communication, BNU (2016–2019). In addition to her academic work, she is also a documentary filmmaker. Her recent works include Born in 2000, Childhood in China, Ivens Meets China, Chengdu: Wonders of Poetic Life, and Mo Yan and Theatre.

Nunn Hall (421) is situated on Level 4 of the main UCL Institute of Education building (20 Bedford Way) a short walk from Russell Square, with street access from Level 4.

The talk will be followed by a reception.