Tag Archives: Hong Kong

Hong Kong International Film Festival to Honor Michael Hui

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The retrospective of Michael Hui’s films will also include an appearance before an audience to discuss his career. 
PHOTO: The Hong Kong International Film Festival Society

HONG KONG – The Hong Kong International Film Festival has announced that veteran director and actor Michael Hui will be the subject of this year’s Filmmaker-in-Focus program.

The festival hailed Hui’s “career spanning half a century as producer, writer, director and actor,” who has “dazzled and entertained generations of Hong Kong audiences with his character-driven satires combined with a splash of slapstick alongside a unique Cantonese sensibility.”

The festival will present a retrospective of 10 of Hui’s films, including “Chicken and Duck Talk” (1988), “Front Page” (1990), “The Magic Touch” (1992) and “Always on My Mind” (1993). The 77-year-old Hui collaborated frequently with his brothers Ricky, Sam and Stanley.

“Michael is a living legend,” Albert Lee, HKIFF executive director, said in a statement on Jan. 23. “Just as the works of screen legends the ilk of Chaplin, Keaton and Tati, Hui’s mastery of his craft makes him a true icon of Hong Kong cinema, with an enduring influence on generations of aspiring filmmakers and comedians” Lee said. “We are thrilled and honored to be recognizing his massive contribution which redefined Hong Kong’s comedy cinema.”

The retrospective will also include a book on Hui’s films and an appearance before a public audience at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre on March 28 to discuss his career.

The 44th Hong Kong International Film Festival runs from March 24 to April 6.

Taiwanese Actress Brigitte Lin to Receive Gala at Italian Film Festival

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Cloud of Romance 我是一片雲

A scene from ‘Cloud of Romance’ (1977)
PHOTO (above): Hong Kong International Film Festival
FEATURED IMAGE PHOTO: Far East Film Festival

HONG KONG – The Far East Film Festival will celebrate the career of Taiwanese actress Brigitte Lin at this year’s event in April, the festival organizers said this week.

The Udine, Italy-based festival will honor Lin with its Golden Mulberry Lifetime Achievement Award and a “small and precious” retrospective of her films. Lin is considered the “goddess” of Hong Kong and Taiwan cinema, the festival said in a statement.

Lin has starred in more than 100 films, the festival organizers noted, appearing in “sentimental melodramas and wuxia titles, to thrillers and eccentric experimental projects,” which the festival will “distill” into a retrospective that will include the European premiere of “Cloud of Romance” (1977), which was recently restored by the Taiwan Film Institute.

The 63-year-old Lin, who retired from her acting career in 1994, will be accompanied by Hong Kong producer Nansun Shi, who has previously collaborated with Lin on films. Shi herself received the Golden Mulberry Lifetime Achievement Award three years ago.

The announcement comes after the Hong Kong International Film Festival also unveiled plans to honor Lin at this year’s 42nd edition in March. The HKIFF will screen 14 of Lin’s films and hold a public seminar, in which the actress will discuss her film career.

The Far East Film Festival, which describes itself as the “European epicenter of Asian cinema,” is known for drawing audiences from Italy, across Europe and around the world to honor Asian movies, filmmakers and actors.

Udine, a picturesque city of about 100,000 in northeast Italy, is situated between Trieste and the Italian Alps.

The Far East Film Festival this year marks its 20th edition, which will be held April 20-28.

HKIFF to Honor Taiwanese Actress Brigitte Lin

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ChungkingExpress 重慶森林

Brigitte Lin in ‘Chungking Express’ (1994), by director Wong Kar-wai.
PHOTO: Hong Kong International Film Festival

HONG KONG – Taiwanese actress Brigitte Lin will be honored by the Hong Kong International Film Festival next month as this year’s “Filmmaker in Focus,” the festival has announced.

At the 42nd edition of the HKIFF, the festival will screen 14 films starring Lin, considered one of the greatest actresses in modern Chinese-language cinema. “Lin is an enduring iconic figure for her legendary beauty and distinguished performances,” the festival said in a statement.

The 14 films include a restored version of “Outside the Window” (1973), which marked Lin’s screen debut. Other films to be shown at the festival include “Peking Opera Blues” (1986), directed by Tsui Hark; director Ann Hui’s “Starry is the Night” (1988); “The Bride with White Hair” (1993) from director Ronny Yu; and “Chungking Express” (1994) and “Ashes of Time” (1994), both from director Wong Kar-wai.

Lin won best actress at the Golden Horse Awards for her performance in “Red Dust” (1990), which also will screen at the festival.

Lin will also appear at the festival’s “Face to Face” seminar at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Grand Theatre on March 31 to share with the audience memories and stories about her films and her personal life.

The 63-year-old Lin has largely led a private life since retiring from her acting career in 1994, making only occasional public appearances.

The 42 Hong Kong Film Festival opens on March 19 and runs through April 5.

Ashes of Time Redux 東邪西毒終極版

Brigitte Lin in director Wong Kar-wai’s ‘Ashes of Time’ (1994).
PHOTO: Hong Kong International Film Festival

Hong Kong’s ‘Port of Call’ Selected as Foreign-Language Oscar Entry

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port-of-call

Aaron Kwok in a scene from ‘Port of Call.’
PHOTO: The Hong Kong International Film Festival Society

Hong Kong’s Motion Picture Industry Association has submitted “Port of Call” by director Philip Yung to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as it entry in the foreign-language film category.

The gritty psychological thriller – inspired by a grisly real-life murder in Hong Kong of a teenage girl from mainland China – premiered at the 39th Hong Kong International Film Festival in 2015 as the closing film and has since been showered with awards.

At the Hong Kong Film Awards in April, it won best actor for Aaron Kwok, best actress for Jessie Li, best supporting actor and best new performer for Michael Ning, best supporting actress for Elaine Jin, best cinematography for Christopher Doyle and best screenplay for Mr. Yung. The Hong Kong Film Critics Society named “Port of Call” as best film of 2015, and it also picked up additional honors at the Asian Film Awards, the Golden Horse Awards in Taiwan and South Korea’s Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival.

The Academy’s foreign-language film nominees are decided in two phases, eginning with a shortlist of nine films selected by a committee. That list is later narrowed to five nominated films, which are voted on by all Academy members who have screened them.

The Oscar ceremony will be held in Hollywood on Feb. 26.

HKAFF 2015: Five Films to Watch

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Miriam Yeung and Jan Lamb in 'She Remembers, He Forgets' PHOTO: HKAFF Society

Miriam Yeung and Jan Lamb in ‘She Remembers, He Forgets’
PHOTO: HKAFF Society

The Hong Kong Asian Film Festival kicks off today in Hong Kong and runs until Nov. 22. The festival is featuring 70 films from across the region. Here are five to mark in your calendar:

“She Remembers, He Forgets” (Hong Kong)

This is director Adam Wong’s first feature since winning best new director at the Hong Kong Film Awards for “The Way We Dance” (2013). Miriam Yeung and Jan Lamb star in this drama about a couple and their troubled marriage. (Watch the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CREm4BB_c9g)

“Mountains May Depart” (China)

Auteur Jia Zhangke’s drama looks at how ordinary people’s lives are affected in a fast-changing society. The film has been nominated for seven Golden Horse Awards, which will be handed out next month. (Watch the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzkKT2wzCXk)

“Zinnia Flower” (Taiwan)

Director Tom Shu-yu Lin worked through his own grief following the death of his wife in this drama about a woman coming to terms over the loss of her fiancé. (Watch the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hB2pVBlx25Q)

“Right Now, Wrong Then” (South Korea)

Director Hong Sang-soo’s latest film won the Golden Leopard award for best film at the Locarno International Film Festival in August, while actor Jung Jae-young picked up the best-actor prize. (Watch the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOE-Zznq_S4)

“Keeper of Darkness” (Hong Kong)

Actor Nick Cheung steps behind the camera for the second time, following last year’s “Hungry Ghost Ritual,” directing and starring in this suspense thriller. (Watch the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHYfKAZa7oI)

Raman Hui Named Director of the Year

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Raman Hui, director of 'Monster Hunt.' PHOTO: CineAsia

Raman Hui, director of ‘Monster Hunt’
PHOTO: CineAsia

Hong Kong filmmaker Raman Hui was named director of the year by movie-industry group CineAsia.

Mr. Hui directed the 3-D fantasy-action hit “Monster Hunt,” China’s biggest blockbuster this year. The film, which opened in July, went on to earn 2.44 billion yuan (US$383.9 million) and claimed the title of China’s No. 1 box-office hit of all time. 

“CineAsia is thrilled to honor Raman Hui with this prestigious award,” Andrew Sunshine, co-managing director of CineAsia, said in a statement. “As the director of what is now the highest-grossing film of all time in China, Raman continues to perform at a level that is second to none,” he said. 

“Monster Hunt,” an adventure-comedy that combines live-action with animation, is about a battle between humans and gruesome-looking creatures that live deep in the forest.

The film stars actress Bai Baihe and actor Jing Boran. The big-name cast includes Tang Wei, Sandra Ng and Eric Tsang. 

Mr. Hui made his mark in Hollywood as the supervising animator and lead character-designer for “Antz” (1998), among other films. He gained further recognition as the supervising animator for “Shrek” (2001) and its 2004 sequel, “Shrek 2.” He also co-directed 2007’s “Shrek the Third.”

Mr. Hui will be honored by CineAsia at an awards ceremony in Hong Kong in December. The annual CineAsia event brings together movie-industry professionals from across Asia and elsewhere, with a focus on exhibition and distribution.

Watch a trailer for “Monster Hunt”:

https://vimeo.com/130720865

‘The Assassin’ Gains an Audience in China

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Shu Qi, in a scene from director Hou Hsiao-hsien's 'The Assassin.' PHOTO: Hong Kong International Film Festival Society

Shu Qi, in a scene from director Hou Hsiao-hsien’s ‘The Assassin.’
PHOTO: Hong Kong International Film Festival Society

Filmmaker Hou Hsiao-hsien’s “The Assassin” continues to gain a steady following at the mainland China box office since its opening on Aug. 27. In its first nine days of release, the Taiwanese director’s art-house sword-play film starring actress Shu Qi has earned 54.91 million yuan (US$8.62 million), according to website ChinaBoxOffice.

The film, which earned Mr. Hou the best-director award at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, has drawn strong reviews — earning a 90% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

The South China Morning Post called it “an instant classic,” while Variety described it as “a mesmerizing slow burn of a martial-arts movie.”

Watch a trailer for “The Assassin”: