Karamay (2010 Documentary Film)

Karamay is a 2010 Chinese documentary film directed by Xu Xin. The film provides an account of the 1994 Friendship Theatre fire in Karamay, China, an event that resulted in the deaths of 325 people, including 288 school children. The tragedy occurred during a performance held for visiting education officials, where children and teachers were reportedly instructed to remain in their seats to allow the officials to evacuate first.

Production and Release

The film has a runtime of 356 minutes. It held its world premiere on March 28, 2010, at the 34th Hong Kong International Film Festival, where it received the Humanitarian Award for Documentaries. Following its premiere, the film was screened at several international film festivals, including the 63rd Locarno International Film Festival and the 29th Vancouver International Film Festival.

Reception

At the 2010 Locarno International Film Festival, Karamay was awarded the First Prize by the Junior Jury.