Three Chinese filmmakers have withdrawn their films from the Melbourne International Film Festival after the festival refused to pull a film about a Uighur dissident.

The Chinese government sent a letter to festival director Richard Moore last week demanding the withdrawal of a documentary on millionaire dissident Rebiya Kadeer, a member of the Uighur minority.

Kadeer, who lives in exile in the U.S., is to attend the festival and speak at a workshop presentation.

After Moore's refusal, the three Chinese filmmakers sent emails withdrawing their entries.

Moore said he has no way of knowing if they were pressured by the Chinese government.

"Their reasons are connected to the presence of the documentary called 10 Conditions of Love about the leader of the Uighur movement in exile Rebiya Kadeer," he said.

"The things that have happened have all been a result of a phone call from a consular official telling us in no uncertain terms that we had to remove the film from the festival. We stick by our guns; we'll play it and we won't bow to that form of bullying."

British filmmaker Ken Loach also has withdrawn his film, Looking for Eric, after the festival refused his request to turn down money from the Israeli Embassy, which is sponsoring Israeli-born filmmaker Tatia Rosenthal, maker of $9.99.

Moore called Loach's approach "a form of cultural blackmail" and said the festival would not bow to such pressure.

Last year, China forced its filmmakers to withdraw from the Golden Horse Awards because they are based in Taiwan, which China regards as a rogue nation.

With files from the Australian Broadcasting Corp.