Chinese LGBT film wins Special Jury Award at Berlin film festival

An LGBT film, A Dog Barking at the Moon, filmed by Chinese female director Xiang Zi, recently won the Teddy Awards' Special Jury Award at the 69th Berlin International Film Festival in Germany.

On Friday, the film festival committee issued the Teddy Special Jury Award to the independent Chinese film centered on straight women, (they are straight and wives of gays) or Tongqi, who unwittingly marry closeted gay men.

Xiang said the motive in shooting A Dog Barking at the Moon was mainly due to her own experiences and that the film also is the first in an "intercultural trilogy" she wants to produce.

The film is a tale of suppressed desire and chronicles the social importance of marriage, and the frostiness that exists between the walls of a wealthy Chinese family's home.

The Tongqi remain a vulnerable group in Chinese society, as Chinese law does not define a gay man as culpable in a broken marriage, meaning no compensation is given to the woman, and the law offers no privileges for these women to obtain custody of their children.

In 2013 Zhang Beichuan, a renowned sexologist, conducted a survey of almost 150 women who had either married or divorced gay or bisexual men, or who were dating such men. It showed that 70 percent of the respondents suffered long-term emotional abuse from the men, often characterized by sexual apathy.

Almost 40 of those surveyed reported symptoms of sexually transmitted diseases. Among the 30 who were tested for HIV, two found themselves infected.

The Teddy Award honors films that raise LGBT issues in film. About 40 films are selected from the main competition sector of the annual Berlin film festival for Teddy Award consideration, according to official website.

The Teddy Awards debuted in 1987 and this year marks the 32nd annual competition. Judges are exclusive to the Teddy Awards. The Teddy Award for best feature film this year went to Brief Story from the Green Planet by Argentine director Santiago Loza.

"I hope everyone can become themselves bravely, and not deceive themselves," said Xiang, speaking to the media during an interview. "But be wary and fight for themselves when facing stress."