officials have asked that the Filipino documentary “Food Delivery: Fresh from the West Philippine Sea” be removed from future screenings at the New Zealand Doc Edge Festival, saying doing so would be in the interest of Chinese-New Zealand relations, but Doc Edge general manager Rachael Penman says they've refused the request and willingly stand by all their filmmakers.
“We are a voice for independent filmmakers. We programmed a film that we felt was really important to be seen and brings up a conversation with so many people. I hope that everyone does go and see this now, and has their own opportunity to make their own decisions about this film.”
The documentary had its world premiere on June 30 at The Capitol Cinema in Auckland — after being withdrawn from screenings in the Philippines (abs-cbn.com/entertainment/). [The film, scheduled to premiere at the Puregold CinePalo Film Festival in Manila, was pulled from the line-up just 2 days before it hit local theaters on Mar 14 over what the film creators described as "external factors".]
It was then selected by New Zealand's Doc Edge Festival — the first to be able to do so. But, this week, festival organizers were asked by the consulate to cut the doco from its schedule.
The Consulate requested in an email that the festival refrain from all future screenings — if it wanted to act in the "interest of public and China-New Zealand relations" — while pointing out that New Zealand Prime Minister's Christopher Luxon's recent visit to China had been "fruitful".
Festival organizers said the written request followed several calls to ticketing staff and board members, requesting that the screenings be pulled.
The consulate claimed: “The documentary... is rife with disinformation and false propaganda, serving as a political tool for Philippines to pursue illegitimate claims in the South China Sea. Its screening would severely mislead the public and send the wrong message internationally … This documentary disregarded history and facts, and is designed to amplify the Philippines' wrong position on the issue concerning the South China Sea and deliberately distort and hype up the maritime situation.”
asiamediacentre.org.nz/chinese-consul
1news.co.nz/2025/07/04/chi