Edinburgh International Film Festival 2012: Spotlight on Wang Bing

The word brave is far too frequently used to describe filmmakers, particularly in the non-fiction world. But in the case of China’s foremost documentarian, Wang Bing, it isn’t misapplied. Since his début with West of the Tracks in 2003, Bing has consistently taken on subject matter that rarely paints modern China or the policies of the ruling communist party in a flattering light. Whilst so far Bing has avoided the fate of Ai Weiwei, his films are rarely shown in his homeland. In this spotlight, there are four films: a double bill of shorts – Coal Money + Brutality Factory, Fengming – a story of survival in the Cultural Revolution, and the most intriguing prospect, The Ditch, Bing’s first foray into the world of fiction. The cherry on an already delicious cake is Bing’s attendance at the festival to conduct a masterclass. An opportunity not to be missed.