The Chinese Mayor (Chinese: 中国市长), original title Datong (大同), is a 2015 documentary[1] that follows Datong mayor Geng Yanbo's efforts to transform one of China's most polluted cities into a cultural destination, in large part by displacing 500,000 residents (about 200,000 homes demolished) to reconstruct the 14th century Ming Dynasty walls of the Old City.
| The Chinese Mayor | |
|---|---|
 Promotional poster | |
| Directed by | Zhou Hao |
| Written by | Zhou Hao, Zhao Qi |
| Produced by | Zhao Qi |
| Starring | Geng Yanbo |
| Cinematography | Zhou Hao, Zhang Tianhui |
| Edited by | Yu Xiaochuan, Tom Lin |
Release date |
|
Running time | 86 minutes |
| Country | People's Republic of China |
| Languages | Chinese (Mandarin), with English subtitles |
Premiere
The film's American premiere occurred at the Sundance Festival,[2] where it was awarded a "Special Jury Award for Unparalleled Access" [3]
Accolades
| Date of ceremony | Award | Category | Recipient(s) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Sundance Film Festival[4] | Special Jury Prize – Documentary | Zhou Hao | Won |
| Grand Jury Prize – Documentary | Zhou Hao | Nominated | ||
| 2015 | Asia Pacific Screen Awards[5] | Best Documentary Feature Film | Zhao Qi | Won |
| 2015 | Golden Horse Film Festival[6] | Best Documentary | Won | |
| 2015 | Little Rock Film Festival[7] | Jury Prize – Cinematic Non-fiction | Zhou Hao | Nominated |
| 2015 | RiverRun International Film Festival[8] | Best Documentary Feature | Zhou Hao | Won |
Reviews
The film received favorable reviews,[9][10] but as of the summer of 2015 the film was still seeking an American distribution partner. In the US, the film can be rented on YouTube. On 10 February 2019, BBC World News televised the documentary.[11]