Xie Fei, the acclaimed Chinese filmmaker responsible for Woman Sesame Oil Maker, released an open statement speaking out against Chinese censorship.

Censorship, says Xie, "has only become a corrupt black spot for controlling the prosperity of the cultural and entertainment industry, killing artistic exploration and wasting administrative resources."

Xie urges that the censors "move from the current administrative review system to a rating system that allows for a self-governed and self-disciplined film industry, bound by legal restrictions and administrative supervision."

[BBC]