April
30
HONG KONG ACTIVIST/LEADER AND NOBEL PEACE PRIZE NOMINEENATHAN LAW WILL NOT BE ATTENDING THE WORLD PREMIERE OF THE DOCUMENTARY “WHO’S AFRAID OF NATHAN LAW” AT HOT DOCS IN TORONTO TONIGHT, APRIL 30, 2023 DUE TO VISAS NOT BEING PROCESSED
PRODUCER ANDREW DUNCAN SPEAKS OUT ON THE SITUATION
NATHAN LAW SPEAKS OUT VIA TWITTER
TORONTO, ONTARIO – Producers of the new documentary WHO’S AFRAID OF NATHAN LAW have been informed that the subject of the film – Hong Kong activist/Nobel Peace Prize nominee Nathan Law – will not be able to travel from the UK where he has refugee status to be at tonight’s world premiere at Toronto’s documentary film festival Hot Docs. Instead, he will be joining the post screening discussion via Zoom on screen together with producer Andrew Duncan and director Joe Piscatella. The producer is now speaking out.
Statement from producer Andrew Duncan:
“Tonight is the premiere of Nathan Law’s biographical film which we have worked on for years. Nathan Law was not allowed to get a visa to enter Canada from the UK despite our and the festival organizers efforts for over a month. Five years ago, I had to go to the Prime Minister’s office to get activist Joshua Wong into Canada for the same film festival event. This is outrageous treatment against a Nobel Peace Prize nominee and iconic global human rights titan. Nathan is one of the most famous refugees in the world, and sadly, the victim of forced migration (a crime against humanity) and a prior political prisoner taken by arbitrary detention. It is unacceptable that Nathan will be “dialing in” to the premiere of his own film in a democracy. The film community including TIFF and Hot Docs should not tolerate this treatment of global heroes who need to be celebrated versus denied entry.”
Nathan Law also spoke out via Twitter today:
“Bad news: I cannot attend the world premiere of “WHO’S AFRAID OF NATHAN LAW” due to a prolonged VISA application. I started it as soon as I knew I needed to attend, but a Canadian visitor VISA is the most complicated process I’ve ever applied for as a UK refugee. It sounds counterintuitive. I also thought Canada is more welcoming to refugee visitors like me. The truth is not. There’s a bigger problem behind it, where the rights of refugees are continuously undermined. Anyways, hope friends in Toronto enjoy the film. See you virtually!”
WHO’S AFRAID OF NATHAN LAW follows the life of Nathan Law – a leader of Hong Kong’s Umbrella Revolution at age 21. The youngest lawmaker ever elected in the history of Hong Kong at age 23. “Most Wanted” under the government’s National Security Law at age 26. As a college freshman, shy Nathan Law discovers an identity in activism. As one of the organizers of a student strike demanding that Hong Kong be allowed to elect their own leader (something promised to them back in 1998), Nathan leads five days of student boycotts with a message of peaceful civil disobedience. When the strike suddenly becomes the Umbrella Revolution, Nathan is unexpectedly thrust into a leadership role that shuts down Hong Kong for 79 days and captures the attention of the world.
When the movement falters, Nathan is charged for his role in the Umbrella Revolution, but his entire generation in Hong Kong has been awoken. Riding the enthusiasm of the student movement he helped spark, Nathan makes the impossible transition from protest leader to elected official, becoming the youngest lawmaker in Hong Kong’s history where he continues his fight for democracy from inside the government.
Fearful of Nathan’s message gaining traction beyond students, the government disqualifies Nathan on a technicality and sends him to jail. As Hong Kong continues to see the erosion of its freedom, a new movement is launched. Whereas the Umbrella Revolution was driven by hope, this new movement is driven by desperation. Nathan’s message of civil disobedience is overshadowed by a new generation of protestors who no longer feel that peaceful demonstrations can save Hong Kong, As Hong Kong descends into the biggest political crisis in modern Chinese history, Nathan must decide his role and his future.
The film makes its world premiere at the Hot Docs Film Festival in Toronto on Sunday, April 30 at 8:30 PM ET at the Isabel Bader Theater and Thursday, May 4 at 1PM ET at the Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema.
WHO’S AFRAID OF NATHAN LAW? is written and directed by Joe Piscatella The film is produced by Matthew Torne, Mark Rinehart, Andrew Duncan and Joe Piscatella and is edited by Matthew Sultan. Hong Kong-based DPs, producers and all crew have chosen to remain anonymous to protect their safety.
WHO’S AFRAID OF NATHAN LAW?
DIRECTED BY JOE PISCATELLA
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