Hong Kong filmmakers gather in Bali to demonstrate the inheritance of spirits among Hong Kong film industry
The Asian Film Awards Academy and the Bali International Film Festival co-organized the "Hong Kong Film Gala Presentation", screening six Hong Kong films from June 1 to 5 at Cinepolis Plaza Renon, including the 4K restored version of "Center Stage", "Fly Me to the Moon" and "In Broad Daylight". Renowned director Stanley Kwan and other Hong Kong filmmakers and professionals in attendance.
The Asian Film Awards Academy (AFAA) has once again come to Indonesia, co-organizing the “Hong Kong Film Gala Presentation” with the Bali International Film Festival. Six Hong Kong films were screened at Cinepolis Plaza Renon from June 1 to 5. We were honoured to invite Stanley Kwan, the director of “Center Stage”, who came along with director Sasha Chuk of his latest produced work, Festival’s opening film “Fly Me to the Moon”. Also in presence were winner of Best Supporting Actress at AFA17 Rachel Leung from “In Broad Daylight” and the film’s composer Chu Wan Pin, as well as Sales & Acquisitions Manager of Golden Scene Felix Tsang, to attend the post-screening sharing sessions in Bali and interact with the local audience. Other films screened included Ray Yeung’s award-winning “All Shall Be Well”, Felix Chong’s “The Goldfinger”, and Nick Cheuk’s “Time Still Turns the Pages”, which won him the Best New Director award at the Asian Film Awards and various other film awards.
The producer and director of the Bali International Film Festival’s opening film “Fly Me to the Moon”, Stanley Kwan and Sasah Chuk, attended the festival press conference, and received media interviews, sharing their experiences and insights on the film production. The excited audience of “Fly Me to the Moon” expressed their love for the film during the post-screening sharing. The two filmmakers also shared the behind-the-scenes creative stories while making the film. Sasha Chuk shared the connection between the film story and her own experiences, while Stanley Kwan expressed his hope to help the younger generation of filmmakers as much as he can.
The delegation of Hong Kong filmmakers and guests from around the world participated in the film festival’s opening night, exchanging ideas in the passionate atmosphere of Bali, and also enjoyed a cross-cultural music feast brought by Hong Kong erhu musician and film composer Chu Wan Pin, and guzheng musician Grammy Yeung, along with Indonesian traditional gamelan musician Putu Septa and the group Nata Swara.
Best Supporting Actress awardee at the 17th Asian Film Awards, Rachel Leung, and the film’s composer Chu Wan Pin attended the post-screening sharing of “In Broad Daylight”. The local audience reacted enthusiastically, and the duo warmly responded to questions about the pre-production preparation and their collaboration with director Lawrence Kan. They both enjoyed the pleasant collaboration with the director, and Rachel Leung shared about the preparatory work she has done to understand and portray the character despite the very short preparation time from receiving the script to filming.
Veteran director Stanley Kwan met the audience after the screening of the 4K restoration version of his classic work “Center Stage”, saying that this was the first time in many years that he watched the film in a cinema, and he shared the unforgettable stories behind making this film. Stanley Kwan recalled the details of working with the lead actress Maggie Cheung more than 30 years ago, remembering how it deeply touched him that she surprised him by shaving her eyebrows for the role, which she was hesitant about before. He also shared the process of the film’s original 150-minute version being asked for cuts after the Hong Kong premiere, and eventually being able to reintroduce the full version.
Several Hong Kong filmmakers were invited to participate in the Bali International Film Festival forum. Veteran director and producer Stanley Kwan and director Sasha Chuk shared their views on the current state and development of Asian and Hong Kong cinema; while seasoned film professional Felix Tsang engaged in a discussion on content procurement and distribution with two other Indonesian industry experts. The guests had a lively discussion and exchanged ideas with other industry professionals, gaining a deeper understanding of the overall development of Asian cinema.
This “Hong Kong Film Gala Presentation” was presented by the Asian Film Awards Academy, in collaboration with the Bali International Film Festival, with the financial support from the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency and the Film Development Fund, and fully supported by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Jakarta. The Academy has organized similar events in Cambodia, Dubai, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore, showcasing the charm and presenting outstanding talents of the Hong Kong film industry, allowing audiences in these regions to continue exploring the new generation of Hong Kong cinema, and promoting the sustainable development of the Hong Kong film industry.
Please contact us if any questions,
Email: info@afa-academy.com
Tel: +852 3195 0609
Website: www.afa-academy.com
