The 2021 Academy Awards will feature a number of culturally significant films, including Nomadland from Eternals director Chloe Zhao and Do Not Split, a short documentary film centered on the 2019 Hong Kong pro-democracy protests.
The nomination of these films have elicited a response from the Chinese Communist Party's propaganda department, who has instructed state-run media to limit coverage of the Oscars in April. Outlets will not cover the ceremony in real-time and will focus on awards that are non-controversial.
Zhao initially earned widespread praise for Nomadland in China. However, following the film's Golden Globe win, an interview with Filmmaker Magazine from 2013 -- which has since been deleted -- resurfaced in which the director expressed critical views of China and its Chinese government, describing the country as "a place where there are lies everywhere." Despite her 2020 film earning six Academy Award nominations, Chinese state-run media has suggested that her reputation within China continues to sour.
The CCP has also pushed for censorship of the Oscar ceremony due to the nomination of Norwegian video journalist Anders Hammer's short documentary, Do Not Split. In response, Hammer stated, "This alleged censoring of the Oscars due to our documentary being nominated is unfortunately not a big surprise after witnessing how freedom of speech and freedom of press is being drastically curtailed in Hong Kong." He added "Sadly the situation there is deteriorating right now, and we see activists and pro-democracy politicians risking many years in prison charged under the new draconian national security law," referencing the mass resignation of the opposition in Hong Kong's Legislative Council, as well as the arrest of 55 activists and politicians in January, whose trial is ongoing.
Furthermore, the Chinese Communist Party has seemingly issued a warning intended for the Academy, stating through state-run media that a win for Do Not Split would "hurt Chinese audiences' feelings and may face a heavy loss in the Chinese market."
Directed by Chloé Zhao, Eternals stars Gemma Chan as Sersi, Richard Madden as Ikaris, Kumail Nanjiani as Kingo, Lauren Ridloff as Makkari, Brian Tyree Henry as Phastos, Salma Hayek as Ajak, Lia McHugh as Sprite, Don Lee as Gilgamesh, Angelina Jolie as Thena, Barry Keoghan as Druig and Kit Harington as Dane Whitman/Black Knight. The film arrives in theaters Nov. 5, 2021.