WILL CHINA BOYCOTT TAIWAN’S GOLDEN HORSE FESTIVAL?

Nothing’s official yet — only rumors — but Taiwanese officials are voicing concerns about the possibility that mainland China will boycott its annual Golden Horse film awards ceremony. According to the unsubstantiated report that appeared on Weibo, China’s version of Facebook, China’s State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television (SARF) has notified its various news media not to broadcast the live ceremony announcing the winners on November 22 or mention the Taiwanese entry Kano, which tells the story of a multi-racial baseball team in Taiwan in the 1930s, including Japanese players, and appears to portray the Japanese colonial era in Taiwan positively. "At a time when the mainland is working hard to make progress and connect with the international world, I would be unwilling to see them drive backward," Taiwan’s minister of culture, Lung Ying Tai, said on Wednesday. (China’s festival favorite Black Coal, Thin Ice, received the most nominations, eight, including best feature, director and actor.) However, Lung added that it would be "inappropriate" for her to respond officially to unconfirmed rumors posted on social media.