New Cinema Collective: The Emerging Power of Asian Cinema
Organised by New Cinema Collective, The Emerging Power of Asian Cinema aims to bring Hong Kong young filmmakers new inspiration and insight. Through case studies of Asian independent and art film productions and conversations with industry professionals, the programme seeks to illuminate new possibilities in Hong Kong film production and offer new perspectives to emerging filmmakers.
Curated into three thematic strands – Co-production, Post-production: Editing, and International Distribution, the programme presents more than 20 films from Southeast Asia, Taiwan, Hong Kong and China, goes hybrid with physical/online screenings, online post-screening talks, masterclass and panel discussion with film professionals.
Chinese New Visions - Short Film Programme I
2018 NETPAC Award, Busan ISFF
2018 International Competition, Clermont ISFF
2018 International Competition, Kaohsiung FF
2020 South Taiwan Film Festival
Filmed during the Taiwanese presidential election in 2020, Red Flag illustrates a dystopian future of Taiwan. A man moves back to his homeland with his father and son to start life all over again, yet fear runs deeper than they think. Mixing news material from protests and black-and-white rural landscape, Wu tells a politically charged story about the past and future.No Flowers or Seasons
2020 Golden Harvest Awards
2020 Clermont-Ferrand ISFF
2020 Kaohsiung Film Festival - International Competition
Two roads diverged, which one shall you take? One evening during the Hong Kong social unrest, a taxi driver meets people with different political views. As he drives through the city, he gets to know young protesters who take the path less travelled by, and that has made all the difference.
Chinese New Visions - Short Film Programme II
2019 FIRST International Film Festival - Short Competition
2020 Golden Awards, Women Make Waves Taiwan Competition
2020 Nominated for Best Live Action Short Film, Golden Horse Awards
2020 Cannes Directors’ Fortnight
2020 Best ASEAN Short Film, Bangkok ASEAN FF
2019 Cinema of Tomorrow Competition, Cairo IFF
Singing in Graveyards (Hong Kong Premiere)
When is too old to rock ’n’ roll? Pinoy rock pioneer Pepe Smith plays Pepe Madrigal, his impersonator, in Singing in Graveyards. After spending decades as an impersonator, Pepe Madrigal is given an opening slot at his idol’s new concert and a chance to write a love song. Looking for inspiration, he revisits his complicated relationships with lovers, family and friends. The debut feature film of Malaysian filmmaker Bradley Liew tells the struggle of an ageing musician, with Filipino art-house master Lav Diaz playing Pepe’s manager, and Diaz’s regular crew Larry Manda as the cinematographer. While the film travels between the imaginary world and unforgiving reality, it is also Pepe Smith’s final film before his death in 2019. Life has an end, but the song goes on.
Bangkok Nites (Hong Kong Premiere)
2016 Busan IFF
2016 Jogja-NETPAC Asian FF
2017 Taipei FF
After exploring the lives of working class folks and migrant workers in Saudade, director Katsuya Tomita visits Thailand – a tourist paradise whose local community is still struggling with its post-colonial reality. With its own set of underworld rules, Bangkok’s Thaniya is a red light district specifically caters to all kinds of Japanese patrons. Luck, a top girl in the district, is responsible for supporting her family financially. Yet fate has led her to encounter former flame Ozawa once again. The two travel up north as they indulge in memories of better days. But since all good times must come to an end, they must decide where their hearts truly belong. After one year of on-location research, director Katsuya TOMIYA takes on the role of Ozawa in this five-year production that results in an ambitious depiction of local customs, colonial history, and regional politics.
Nakorn-Sawan
Emerging Thai director Puangsoi Aksornsawang interweaves raw home videos, photographs, personal memories and fiction in this poetic docu-drama debut. Aoey, a film student returns to her hometown Nakorn Sawan (Paradise City in Thai) to attend her mother’s funeral. As she contemplates on the passing of a loved one, she finds herself struggling to reconnect with her father and people from the past. Puangsoi’s personal grief and memories of her departed mother echo Aoey’s complex feelings of loss, agony and misery.
Drifting in and out of two realities, director Puangsoi Aksornsawang expressed that editing is at the core of the film. Working with veteran editor Lee Chatametikool, Puangsoi recalled the editing process as a collaboration, with countless intimate conversations between the two filmmakers. The result is a poignant film that explores the binaries in life and filmmaking, and melds narrative with real emotions.
Tickets are now available on Hong Kong Movie.
Ticket price: $80 / 64*
*20% discount for full-time students, senior citizens aged 60 or above, people with disabilities and the minder and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) recipients. Tickets for CSSA recipients available on a first-come-first-served basis. Concessionary ticket holders must producenevidence of their identity or age upon admission.
*20% off for each purchase of 4 or more standard tickets.
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Presented by: Ground Up Film Society
