Fan Popo is a leading queer filmmaker, writer, and activist of the younger generation in China. He is best known for his documentaries that focus on the intersection of LGBTQ+ identity and family dynamics, such as Mama Rainbow and Papa Rainbow.
"If we don't tell our own stories, they will be erased or told by others through a distorted lens."
Impact
In 2015, Fan made headlines by suing the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television (SAPPRFT) after his documentary Mama Rainbow was removed from major Chinese video sites. His victory in court was a landmark moment for queer visibility and digital censorship resistance in China. His works have been screened globally, providing a vital window into the lives, struggles, and joys of the contemporary Chinese LGBTQ+ community.