Vietnam Bans ‘Barbie’ Movie Over South China Sea Map 

Margot Robbie poses for the media prior to a news conference of the movie "Barbie." in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, July 3, 2023. The film is to be released in the country on July 19. (AP)
Margot Robbie poses for the media prior to a news conference of the movie "Barbie." in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, July 3, 2023. The film is to be released in the country on July 19. (AP)
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Vietnam Bans ‘Barbie’ Movie Over South China Sea Map 

Margot Robbie poses for the media prior to a news conference of the movie "Barbie." in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, July 3, 2023. The film is to be released in the country on July 19. (AP)
Margot Robbie poses for the media prior to a news conference of the movie "Barbie." in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, July 3, 2023. The film is to be released in the country on July 19. (AP)

Vietnam has banned Warner Bros' highly-anticipated film "Barbie" from domestic distribution over a scene featuring a map that shows China's unilaterally claimed territory in the South China Sea, state media reported on Monday.

The U-shaped "nine-dash line" is used on Chinese maps to illustrate its claims over vast areas of the South China Sea, including swathes of what Vietnam considers its continental shelf, where it has awarded oil concessions.

"Barbie" is the latest movie to be banned in Vietnam for depicting China's controversial nine-dash line, which was repudiated in an international arbitration ruling by a court in The Hague in 2016. China refuses to recognize the ruling.

In 2019 the Vietnamese government pulled DreamWorks' animated film

"Abominable" and last year it banned Sony's action movie "Unchartered" for the same reason. Netflix also removed an Australian spy drama "Pine Gap" in 2021.

"Barbie", starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, was originally slated to open in Vietnam on July 21, the same date as in the United States, according to state-run Tuoi Tre newspaper.

"We do not grant license for the American movie 'Barbie' to release in Vietnam because it contains the offending image of the nine-dash line," the paper reported, citing Vi Kien Thanh, head of the Department of Cinema, a government body in charge of licensing and censoring foreign films.

Warner Bros did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Vietnam and China have long had overlapping territorial claims to a potentially energy-rich stretch in the South China Sea. The Southeast Asian country has repeatedly accused Chinese vessels of violating its sovereignty.



Red Sea International Film Festival Sets Dates for 2025 Edition

Red Sea International Film Festival Sets Dates for 2025 Edition
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Red Sea International Film Festival Sets Dates for 2025 Edition

Red Sea International Film Festival Sets Dates for 2025 Edition

The Red Sea International Film Festival (RSIFF) announced that its fifth edition will take place from December 4 to 13 at Jeddah’s historic Al Balad district.

This edition marks a significant milestone in the festival’s journey, celebrating its fifth anniversary and solidifying its reputation for supporting cinematic excellence, inspiring creativity, and empowering filmmakers in the Middle East, Asia, and Africa.

This success has reinforced the Red Sea International Film Festival’s position as a leading cultural and cinematic event at both regional and international levels.

The previous edition recorded the highest attendance in the festival’s history, with over 40,000 attendees, including nearly 7,000 registered guests.

A total of 122 films from 85 countries were screened, including 61 world premieres, underscoring the festival’s growing influence.