Cui Zi’en stands as one of the most influential figures in Chinese independent cinema, and among the earliest and most prolific filmmakers to embrace digital video (DV) as a medium for artistic expression. His work consistently explores the many dimensions of queer life, characterized by a free, fluid cinematic style that often confronts social taboos and systemic injustices. His early short films include Mass and Debate on the Public Toilet, while Old Testament marked his debut feature—an essential work that established his voice in queer cinema.
Before turning to directing, Cui was already an acclaimed novelist and screenwriter. His literary works, such as Peach-Colored Lips, The Clown Appears, and Uncle’s Worldly Lights, demonstrate a distinctive and powerful narrative voice. He also wrote screenplays for films including Men and Women.
Beyond his creative output, Cui has been a committed cultural activist and educator. He co-founded the Beijing Queer Film Festival and has long engaged in film education. In the early years of China’s independent cinema movement, he contributed significantly through critical writing and essays, playing a vital role in promoting and legitimizing independent voices in Chinese film culture.
At this year’s IndieChina Film Festival, we take this opportunity to pay tribute to Cui Zi’en—an artist whose work has not only advanced queer cinema, but also reshaped the landscape of independent film in China. As part of the festival, we will screen two of his seminal works, Old Testament and Night Scene, and are honored to host the director for a post-screening conversation with the audience.
致敬：酷兒電影先鋒崔子恩
崔子恩是中國極具代表性的獨立電影創作者之一，也是最早運用DV進行電影實踐並成果斐然的先鋒導演。他的創作長期關注酷兒議題，作品主題廣泛而深刻，影像語言自由奔放，常常觸及禁忌與現實的深層矛盾，展現出強烈的個人風格與時代批判精神。
其早期短片作品包括《Mass》與《公廁正方反方》，而《舊約》則是他首部長篇電影，奠定了他在酷兒影像領域的創作地位。
在投身導演工作之前，崔子恩亦是一位勤奮而備受矚目的小說家與編劇。他的小說作品如《桃色嘴唇》、《丑角登場》及《舅舅的人間燈火》，風格獨特，筆觸深刻；同時，他也擔任過多部影片的編劇，如《男男女女》等。
在社會行動與電影教育方面，崔子恩不僅是北京同志電影節的創始人之一，也長期致力於電影教學與影像推廣工作。於中國獨立電影興起之初，他曾撰寫大量影評與評論文字，對推動本土獨立電影的發展貢獻良多，其影響至今不可忽視。
在本屆 IndieChina 電影節中，我們謹以此篇致意，向這位深具歷史與文化意義的獨立電影人、酷兒影像的先鋒表達最高敬意。本屆影展將特別放映崔子恩導演的兩部重要作品——《舊約》與《夜景》，並誠摯邀請導演親臨映後現場，與觀眾進行面對面的交流與對話。
