The eighth annual Hong Kong Cinema, presented by SFFILM in partnership with the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in San Francisco, showcased works of new film talents. The festival, which ran from September 28-30, opened with Tomorrow Is Another Day, the first feature film directed and written by screenwriter Chan Tai-lee. Of the seven movies in this year’s line-up, five were directed by new directors and rising stars.
The Acting Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in San Francisco, Mr Michael Yau (left); the Executive Director of SFFILM, Mr Noah Cowan (right); and Hong Kong film director Jevons Au (center), at the opening night reception of the eighth annual Hong Kong Cinema.
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At the opening night reception, Acting Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, San Francisco, Mr Michael Yau said he was pleased that SFFILM took notice of Hong Kong’s emerging film talents. Film director, Jevons Au, also joined the reception. His movie, Distinction, a social drama about Hong Kong’s educational system is Au’s feature debut. “Other movies included in this series: Vampire Cleanup Department, Somewhere Beyond the Mist, and The Brink are all debut features,” he said.
“It’s exciting to be celebrating such fresh talent in this year’s program,” said SFFILM’s Senior Programmer Rod Armstrong. “With a record number of debut features that delve into social realism, action-packed thrills, and other exiting arenas, the 2018 line-up not only demonstrates a regional shift of support for the next generations of filmmakers, but also an impressively broad range of subject matter.”
Mr Yau highlighted that Somewhere Beyond the Mist, a winning project of the First Feature Film Initiative, launched in 2013 to nurture new film talents, as well as Tomorrow is Another Day were financed by the Film Development Fund (FDF). “Since its inception in 2007, FDF has financed over 30 film projects, involving funding of over US$ 11 million (HK $90 million). These films have won nearly 100 awards at local and overseas film festivals,” he said.
The cast of the opening night film included both veteran and new actors and actresses. Their acting skills were highly recognized. Ling Man-lung was named Best New Performer at the 37th Hong Kong Film Awards for his role as an autistic teenager. Teresa Mo who played his mother in the movie won Best Actress at the Hong Kong Film Awards and the Asia-Pacific Film Festival. “I hope you will enjoy the movie this evening and the superb acting skills of the two generations,” Mr Yau added.
Other program highlights of this three-day festival included a musical biopic, House of the Rising Sons and a documentary portrait of an artist, I’ve got the Blues.
The Acting Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in San Francisco, Mr Michael Yau, speaks at the opening night reception of the eighth annual Hong Kong Cinema in San Francisco.
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The Acting Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in San Francisco, Mr Michael Yau (right) and Hong Kong film director Jevons Au (left), are pictured at the Vogue Theatre, venue of the eighth annual Hong Kong Cinema in San Francisco.
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