Asian Film Awards Academy X Hong Kong Baptist University Academy of Film: Asian Filmmakers In Focus Talk Series
HKBU students and staff attending the sessions will have the opportunity to receive the Asian Cinerama tickets and exclusive AFAA souvenirs! Seats are limited, allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, and admission is free of charge!
The Academy of Film (AF) of Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU), in collaboration with the Asian Film Awards Academy (AFAA), proudly presents “the Asian Filmmakers In Focus talk” series, featuring three distinguished filmmakers from Japan and Korea. This exclusive campus event offers HKBU students and staff an opportunity to engage in intimate discussions with these cinematic luminaries.
The guests include Japanese director Yoshiyuki Okuyama, known for directing Pocari Sweat campaigns of Japan and music videos for Kenshi Yonezu and Gen Hoshino; Korean director Seo You-min, whose work on The Last Princess earned Son Ye-jin the Grand Bell Award for Best Actress; and Japanese director Satoko Yokohama, whose latest film Seaside Serendipity received a Special Mention in the Berlinale Generation Kplus section. The three filmmakers will be bringing their latest works — At the Bench, Secret: Untold Melody, and Seaside Serendipity — to participate in the “Asian Cinerama,” and will take this opportunity to visit the HKBU campus.
HKBU students and staff attending the sessions will have the opportunity to receive the Asian Cinerama tickets and exclusive AFAA souvenirs, subject to limited availability and allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Seats are limited, allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, and admission is free of charge.
* Deadline: 6:00pm 27 August 2025
* Successful registrants will receive a confirmation email by 29 August 2025.
* Venue details will be confirmed via the event confirmation email.
* The event is exclusively for HKBU students and staff, with priority given to students from the Academy of Film.
* The sessions will be conducted in Cantonese and Mandarin.
Application Form: https://forms.office.com/r/MeEecYnsje
Yoshiyuki Okuyama ー Japan’s Next-Gen Visual Creator: From Stills to Screens
Guest: Yoshiyuki Okuyama
Date: 1 September 2025 (Monday)
Time: 10:00am – 11:30am
Venue: Jockey Club Creative Hub (Jockey Club Campus of Creativity JC3) (The exact location will be confirmed by email later)
Born in 1991, Yoshiyuki Okuyama is one of Japan’s most vibrant young visual artists, celebrated for his poetic and dynamic style across photography, exhibitions, commercials, music videos, and film. His portfolio includes acclaimed campaigns for Pocari Sweat and popular music videos for artists like Kenshi Yonezu and Gen Hoshino, earning him a devoted following among Japan’s youth.
Okuyama’s latest film, At the Bench, unfolds in five chapters, featuring an impressive ensemble cast including Suzu Hirose, Mio Imada, Yukino Kishii, Tsuyoshi Kusanagi, Kamiki Ryunosuke, and Riho Yoshioka, all drawn to the script’s unique charm. He is also set to release a live-action adaptation of Makoto Shinkai’s 5 Centimeters per Second in October 2025.
Seo You-min ー Inside the Rise of Korean Cinema with a Veteran Screenwriter
Guest: Seo You-min
Date: 3 September 2025 (Wednesday)
Time: 6:00 – 7:30pm
Venue: Jockey Club Creative Hub (Jockey Club Campus of Creativity JC3) (The exact location will be confirmed by email later)
Since her screenwriting debut in 2005 with Hur Jin-ho’s April Snow, Seo You-min has crafted a diverse array of films, from the heartfelt historical drama The Last Princess to the romantic Happiness and the workplace comedy You Call It Passion. In 2021, she transitioned to directing with the box-office success Recalled, and her latest project is a Korean remake of the Taiwanese hit Secret.
With nearly two decades in the industry, Seo has witnessed the meteoric rise of Korean cinema, driven by industry reforms in the late 1990s and amplified by the global K-culture phenomenon. Her talk will explore this transformation, highlighting how commercial blockbusters and art-house films coexist and thrive, offering valuable lessons from Korea’s cinematic success.
Satoko Yokohama ー From Japan’s Indie Gems to the Berlinale: Taking Small Films to the World
Guest: Satoko Yokohama
Date: 5 September 2025 (Friday)
Time: 4:00 -5:30pm
Venue: Jockey Club Creative Hub (Jockey Club Campus of Creativity JC3) (The exact location will be confirmed by email later)
Renowned for her distinctive storytelling, Japanese director Satoko Yokohama made her mark in 2007 with German + Rain, earning the Directors Guild of Japan New Directors Award. Her whimsical fantasy romance Bare Essence of Life, starring Kenichi Matsuyama, was selected for the Toronto International Film Festival, while her 2021 film Ito, set in Aomori, garnered critical acclaim.
Her latest work, Seaside Serendipity (2025), received a Special Mention from the International Jury in the Berlinale Generation Kplus section. Yokohama’s films uncover the extraordinary in everyday life through an unconventional lens. In this session, she will share her journey in crafting non-mainstream films and navigating the challenges of domestic and international markets, offering invaluable insights for students passionate about the art and business of indie cinema.
Terms and Conditions:
1. The event is exclusively for Hong Kong Baptist University students and staff. Valid HKBU student or staff identification must be presented upon entry.
2. Seats are first-come, first-served basis.
3. Photography, video, and audio recording are strictly prohibited during the sessions, except by designated official staff.
4. The organiser reserves the right to change the venue of the sessions. Participants will be notified of any changes via email or HKBU’s official social media platforms.
5. Attendees are expected to arrive on time and adhere to HKBU’s code of conduct. Disruptive behaviour may result in removal from the event.
6. In the case of any disputes, Hong Kong Baptist University Academy of Film and Asian Film Award Academy reserve the right to make final decisions.
Please contact us if any questions,
Email: info@afa-academy.com
Tel: +852 3195 0610
Website: www.afa-academy.com
