Together We Dare to Reimagine: Sparking New Perspectives in Singapore
The Hong Kong Film Gala Presentation wraps up in Singapore, from heartfelt post-screening conversations and industry networking to cutting-edge tech tour, with connections growing beyond the cinema
“Back then, I was standing on stage, separated from the audience by a beam of light. This time, however, I’m sitting in a cinema as a filmmaker, able to interact and chat audiences at such close range. I’m truly grateful for this opportunity.” Rosa Maria Velasco, lead actress of Golden Boy, expressed her feelings about shifting from stage to silverscreen during the post-screening discussion at the Hong Kong Film Gala Presentation.
The Asian Film Awards Academy (AFAA) hosted a vital stop of its year-round touring showcase, the “Hong Kong Film Gala Presentation,” in Singapore, centred on the core theme “Together We Dare to Reimagine”. “Reimagining” was not just a slogan — Golden Boy, Paws Land, and Someone Like Me — echoed in the sincere exchange after another: how Hong Kong cinema can rethink family, re-examine life, and rediscover what love means.
Rosa Maria Velasco had previously performed in Singapore as a stage actress. She returned to the city to attend the post-screening Q&A of Golden Boy, reflecting on her journey from the theatre to the film industry. Seeing the undiminished passion Singaporean fans hold for Hong Kong cinema, Rosa expressed her joy at reconnecting with Singaporean film lovers after a long absence.
Some audiences were particularly intrigued by her onscreen chemistry with Louis Cheung, especially the intense slapping scene. “In filming that scene, I was doing it ‘for real.’ I hoped to get it right in a single take, as that sense of ‘real pain’ was crucial to restoring the tension in the characters’ relationship. While it felt liberating to perform, seeing my senior co-star in actual pain made me feel quite embarrassed afterward,” Rosa responded from a professional perspective. Rather than mere pain, it was an expression of the shared sincerity filmmakers invest in reimagining authentic narratives.
Some passionate fans reflected on Rosa’s memorable performances in Time Still Turns the Pages, The Last Dance, and her latest work Golden Boy, leading to a deeper discussion on acting. They observed how her recent roles often portray powerful mother figures or sensitive caregivers, and asked whether working frequently with child actors posed specific challenges. Rosa spoke movingly about the inspiration she drew from working with child actors. She specifically praised Lau Ho Nam from Golden Boy and Wong Tsz Lok, who played her son in Time Still Turns the Pages: “These two young actors are immensely talented; their interpretations are incredibly pure and devoid of affectation.” For Rosa, collaborating with these gifted newcomers is more than just a job; it is a spiritual exchange that allows her to rediscover her own “beginner’s mind” in acting.
If Golden Boy led audiences back to the pain and redemption within family bonds, Paws Land turned its lens toward a far harsher reality. Four years were spent tracking the daily operations of a grassroots animal rescue organization in Hong Kong, presenting the abandonment and trauma experienced by stray animals with unflinching realism. Singaporean fans showed immense empathy toward the subject, with many noting the similarities between the urban developments of Hong Kong and Singapore and the shared threat to the survival space of stray animals.
“We filmed this to track how rescuers practice the spirit of ‘saving one, letting one live.’ Rescuing stray dogs is not just about healing wounds; it involves facing massive medical expenses and resettlement challenges,” Director Au Cheuk Man highlighted the weight of this work during the exchange. Speaking about how to balance his roles as both rescuer and filmmaker, Au explained, “Most of the time, I stayed behind the camera. It’s only when situations become critical that I step in to help.”
Responding to the stories shared by local Singaporean volunteers, Au noted, “We’ve asked those in the field, and the number of stray dogs is often ‘infinite’, rescue alone will never be enough. Therefore, the role of Paws Land is to start from the root, planting the idea of animal protection in the audiences’ hearts. As our poster mentions, every life deserves equal respect. If the film encourages viewers to rethink how humans coexist with other lives, then that is cinema fulfilling its role as a tool for social reflection.”
On the final night of the showcase, director Tam Wai Ching met audiences in person with her latest film, Someone Like Me. The film challenges the traditional framework of Hong Kong cinema by handling taboo topics with a rare, tender perspective, and returning love to its purest form. The Singaporean audience expressed great admiration for the director’s courage in reimagining the “desire and dignity” of the disabled.
Tam candidly shared the sense of “fate” behind the project, recalling a few years ago, while working on a television drama, she first learned about Hand Angels, a Taiwanese organisation providing sexual assistance to people with disabilities. The experience shook her to her core. “The exchange with those volunteers made me re-examine the power of love. It wasn’t that I intentionally sought out this subject; rather, the subject chose me at the most appropriate moment. I longed for a new challenge to remedy the conservative flaws of my debut film, In Your Dreams,” she added.
She clarified the film’s positioning for the audience, “This is not a rigid social commentary; it is a pure romantic art film. I see how Fish Liew and Carlos Chan seek spiritual freedom and solace within the limitations of their bodies.” Tam concluded by expressing her honor at interacting with the Singaporean audience, whose valuable feedback reaffirmed her belief that bringing Hong Kong cinema to the world is a mission worth persevering for.
Beyond interactions on the big screen, AFAA deeply invested in industry connectivity. An industry networking lunch held during the gala gathered approximately 30 elites from Singapore’s film and television sector, including producers, distributors, and directors.
During the lunch, Lim Teck, CEO of Clover Films and film producer, engaged in fruitful exchanges with the Hong Kong delegation. Notably, legendary Singaporean crossover actors Lim Kay Tong and Doreen Toh made a surprise appearance, striking up an immediate rapport with Rosa due to their shared deep backgrounds in theatre. The three discussed the transition between stage and screen performances and their shared visions for portraying Asian characters. This cross-regional “professional dialogue” was filled with enthusiasm, as Rosa seized the opportunity to inquire about the current state of Singapore’s arts and culture scene from the seniors.
The team visited Infinite Studios, Singapore’s premier media hub, to take a glimpse at the actively developing in “Virtual Production”. During the visit, the participants witnessed state-of-the-art 360-degree virtual production facilities in action, where a large crew was using real-time rendering technology against a massive LED wall to film a high-fantasy drama.
From profound campus dialogues and high-energy industry exchanges to the lingering thoughts following the Q&A sessions, these elements collectively formed a meaningful journey of “Reimagining.”
As the final screening concluded under the Singaporean night sky, the Hong Kong Film Gala Presentation 2025 officially drew to a close. Through the spirit of “Together We Dare to Reimagine,” the Asian Film Awards Academy successfully connected filmmakers, industry elites, students, and audiences across regions, proving that Hong Kong cinema still possesses the power to transcend regions and touch hearts. Looking ahead to 2026, the Academy will continue to lead more outstanding Hong Kong works to explore the infinite future of light and shadow with film enthusiasts across Asia.
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