ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book reveals with new Chinese-language documentaries open up new visions of documentary practice as it responds to the material and institutional forces in the Chinese-speaking societies to fulfill certain agendas set by filmmakers themselves, rather than dictated by political or commercial interests. It discusses 'The Circulation of Mainland Chinese Independent Documentary', investigates the changing landscape of exhibition, distribution, and reception of independent documentary both inside and outside mainland China. The book traces recent social theories of place and space and evaluates the often-neglected role of independent documentary in exploring place-based but not always place-bound identities, subjectivities, and tactics of local, translocal, and polylocal practices. It examines a documentary dealing with a transnational marriage in Taiwan. It considers 'Taiwan Documentary in the International Arena', investigates the Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival (YIDFF) as a crucial source of inspiration for Taiwan documentary filmmakers and curators.
