Delivered by Intellect to: Guest (guest) IP: 116.49.48.43 On: Sat, 01 Jul 2023 04:06:16 AC 33 (2) pp. 117–130 Intellect Limited 2022 Asian Cinema Volume 33 Number 2 www.intellectbooks.com 117 EDITORIAL MIKE INGHAM The Chinese University of Hong Kong KENNY K. K. NG Hong Kong Baptist University Introduction: Hong Kong independent documentaries and their visibility ABSTRACT In their general introduction to the present Special Issue the authors trace the origins of and motivation behind much of the independent documentary filmmak- ing produced in the city during a period of great sociopolitical turbulence, leading up to the tight censorship protocols put in place after the mainland government’s promulgation of the repressive National Security Law in 2020. With reference to the individual essays that comprise this volume, they chart the sudden and unprec- edented rise of documentary filmmaking in Hong Kong following many decades of public indifference to the genre. Limited public and underground screenings that took place before absolute censorship measures were implemented in 2021 showed huge box-office demand for these topical films, reflecting images of ordinary Hong Kong people and their struggle for political representation. This opening essay introduces a range of essays and one interview, mostly in relation to specific films, dealing with the now-contentious coupling of documentary films or television broadcasts and democracy. As the essays indicate, some directors and producers KEYWORDS documentary democracy censorship independent observational grassroots participatory citizen-spectator © 2022 Intellect Ltd Editorial. English language. https://doi.org/10.1386/ac_00050_2