Asian filmmakers gathered for AFA17 Featured Programmes
Exciting events brought top filmmakers from all over Asia, including but not limited to nominees of the AFA, to Hong Kong to communicate and interact with local audiences and international fans, and revealed the behind-the-scene stories.
Organised by the Asian Film Awards Academy, a brand-new series of featured programmes for the 17th Asian Film Awards (AFA) including – “KUROSAWA Kiyoshi x Fruit CHAN – Masterclass”, “In Conversation with Asian Filmmakers” series, AFA17 Youth Ambassadors Meet-and-Greet, and the world premiere gala of Thai actor Win Metawin’s second film “Under Parallel Skies” were successfully held from March 8 to 11, 2024! Exciting events brought top filmmakers from all over Asia, including but not limited to nominees of the AFA, to Hong Kong to communicate and interact with local audiences and international fans, and revealed the behind-the-scene stories.
KUROSAWA Kiyoshi X Fruit CHAN – Masterclass
In this remarkable occasion, renowned Japanese director and jury president of the 17th Asian Film Awards, KUROSAWA Kiyoshi and local independent film master Fruit CHAN got together to discuss all things cinematic. The captivating conversation took place at the Hong Kong Design Institute and spanned a wide range of topics, encompassing their personal experiences, artistic endeavours, and their insights into the industry.
While exploring their outlook on cinema and their respective creative processes, Fruit CHAN delved into the notion of the modern-day “box office” and how it has come to define the success (or failure) of a commercial film. Nevertheless, he argued that any local Hong Kong production should be deemed successful, regardless of its box office performance. He also reminisced on his own humble beginnings as a director and shared his views on independent filmmaking. Despite emphasising the importance of budget control, he still firmly believed that adhering to his artistic vision could bring about a profound sense of achievement.
In response, KUROSAWA Kiyoshi shared his own insights on filmmaking, including his reservations about shooting explicit scenes, and his recent inclination to adhere closely to the script rather than relying on improvisation. He also expressed a tinge of envy towards the younger generation of filmmakers who now has the luxury of shooting in the digital age, vividly recalling the tension he experienced back in the day while shooting with traditional film.
“In Conversation with Asian Filmmakers” Series
Kicking off the “In Conversation with Asian Filmmakers” series with a bang was the inspiring discussion titled “The Multifaceted Lives of Women Filmmakers”, featuring AFA17 Best Supporting Actress winner and nominee – Hong Kong promising actress Rachel LEUNG and the versatile Taiwanese diva WAN Fang. Moderated by Hong Kong femaledirector stage performer Kearen PANG, the duo shared their experiences working in the film industry, unanimously agreeing on the importance of staying true to oneself and cultivating a deep understanding of life and the world, regardless of the challenges or diversity of their roles.
Transitioning from the women on screen to “The Man Behind the Camera”, the nominees for Best Cinematography at this year’s AFA, KITAGAWA Yoshio and CHENGMA Zhiyuan, shared insights into their unique approaches to their works in filmmaking. KITAGAWA Yoshio underscored the crucial role of lighting, as it significantly influences the overall atmosphere of a film, while CHENGMA Zhiyuan revealed that his visual designs often draw inspiration from the film’s soundtrack.
In the session “Becoming a Director” which took place in eslite spectrum Tsim Sha Tsui Store, Hong Kong director Nick CHEUK, who won Best New Director at AFA for Time Still Turns The Pages, admitted that he had never considered himself capable of becoming a director, after a decade of working in the industry as a scriptwriter. It was his sheer passion for the cinematic medium that inspired him to create his first feature based on his own stories. Mongolian director Lkhagvadulam PUREV-OCHIR of City of Wind highlighted her penchant for incorporating foreign elements into her work, while Dominic SANGMA, the director of Rapture, described cinema as an extension of himself—a bridge connecting him with the world and evoking resonance in others.
Taking place afterwards is the session “Editing: The Invisible Hand in Films”. YAMAZAKI Azusa, editor of Evil Does Not Exist, spoke about her close bond with director and former classmate HAMAGUCHI Ryosuke, which fostered a sense of familiarity during their collaborative process. French editor Matthieu LACLAU of Only the River Flows amusingly shared that he received the script only in Chinese and had to piece together the story independently while reviewing the footage, jokingly mentioning spending two months to solve the murder case in the film. Nick CHEUK, director and editor of Time Still Turns The Pages, alongside editor Keith CHAN Hiu Chun, discussed the desensitisation they experienced during the prolonged and exhausting editing process, which led them to seek second opinions from other team members.
The session titled “Enchantment of Film Aesthetics” brought together six nominees for AFA Best Costume Design and Best Production Design at Kino@Eaton HK to discuss the transformative power of aesthetics in film. Eric LAM and MAN Lim Chung, respective winner of the two awards forThe Goldfinger, pointed out that their goal was never to construct anauthentic recreation of 1980s Hong Kong, but rather to capture the essence of that era and evoke a sense of opulence and glamour. MITSUMATSU Keiko, art director of Monster, highlighted the role of production design in building the film’s atmosphere and assisting actors in embodying their characters, while Tim YIP, from Creation of the Gods I: Kingdom of Storms, emphasised how good production design allows audiences to immerse themselves in the film’s world, transporting them to different spaces and in different lives. Elaine NG from Snow in Midsummer revealed that she finds inspiration by reading scripts while drinking, while ZHANG Menglun from Only the River Flows often embarks on journeys across the country in search of shooting locations.
“The Birth of an Actor” marked the end of the “In Conversation with Asian Filmmakers” series, bringing together four Best Newcomer nominees, including Hong Kong actress Yoyo TSE, who won the Golden Horse Award for Best New Performer for her debut on the silver screen. She candidly admitted that she never imagined herself becoming an actress before being discovered by the director on the streets of Mong Kok. Awat RATANAPINTHA from Thailand shared that his biggest challenge as an actor is portraying characters vastly different from his real self, while Japanese actress SHIRATA Mihaya revealed her struggles with speaking in a foreign language and the efforts she made to practice her Singaporean accent by watching clips of Singaporean YouTubers. When asked about the type of actor he aspires to be in the future, Tergel BOLD-ERDENE, winner of Best Newcomer at this year’s Asian Film Awards, expressed his desire to become a comedic actor, as many people had remarked that his face lacks seriousness.
AFA17 Youth Ambassadors Meet-and-Greet
Four Youth Ambassadors of AFA17, the versatile Taiwanese actor LIU Kuan-Ting, popular Thai actor Mario MAURER, Japanese model-to-actor MIYAZAWA Hio, and Hong Kong new-generation and highly anticipated actor Will OR, visited wwwtcmall in Causeway Bay to meet and interact closely with the crowd of fans.
Despite their diverse backgrounds and the languages they speak, the four ambassadors interacted with fans in a friendly and amicable manner, resulting in screams of excitement. They engaged in playful games, filling the mall with contagious laughter. Finally, they took photos and signed autographs for their dedicated fans. The atmosphere was filled with enthusiasm as everyone fully immersed themselves and had a truly enjoyable experience.
World Premiere Gala of Under Parallel Skies
The world premiere of Under Parallel Skies showcased the talent of Thai actor Win Metawin (Metawin Opas-iamkajorn), who received this year’s AFA Rising Star Award, making him the first Thai actor to achieve this honour. Joined by co-star Janella SALVADOR, director Sigrid BERNARDO, and producer Richard JUAN, Win attended the premiere of his second film at apm mall, where the team engaged with the local audience. They shared delightful experiences of filming in Hong Kong and discussed the cross-cultural romance depicted in the film.
Following the conclusion of the 17th Asian Film Awards ceremony, the Academy will continue to foster meaningful connections between film lovers and filmmakers across Asia by hosting a variety of exciting events throughout the coming year. Our goal is to encourage the global expansion of the Asian and Hong Kong film industry by supporting its talents. Through the power of cinema, we hope to stimulate diverse cultural involvement amongst global audiences.
Please contact us if any questions,
Email: info@afa-academy.com
Tel: +852 3195 0608
Website: www.afa-academy.com
