Filipino director pushes back after Beijing tries to block South China Sea film

Filipino filmmaker Baby Ruth Villarama stands in front of a Philippine Coast Guard ship while shooting her documentary on the South China Sea. - Photo: Courtesy of Voyage Studios

MANILA: A Filipino documentary chronicling military resupply missions and fishermen’s daily struggles in the disputed South China Sea has sparked diplomatic tension after China attempted to halt the film’s initial screening.

Directed by acclaimed film-maker Baby Ruth Villarama and produced by Manila-based Voyage Studios, the film Food Delivery: Fresh from the West Philippine Sea was initially set to premiere in March at the PureGold CinePanalo Film Festival in Manila.