China’s film industry was operating under a planned economy when Wang Xiaoshuai graduated from Beijing Film Academy in 1989. His directorial debut, “The Days,” about a despondent artist couple, was screened at film festivals in Europe in 1994. They barred Mr. Wang from working in the industry because he had screened “The Days” at foreign film festivals without their permission. Mr. Wang, like many other artists in China, found ways around the ban, and he went on to become one of the country’s most acclaimed directors as the restrictions loosened. When he screened his latest film, “Above the Dust,” at the Berlin International Film Festival, his company got a call from China’s censors.

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Persons: Wang Xiaoshuai, Eager, Wang, “ Organizations: Beijing Film Academy, British Broadcasting Corporation, Berlin Locations: Europe, China