Singapore
The Singapore Film Society
Singapore
Date: 2024年11月20日 至24日
Location: Singapore (GV Suntec City)
Guest: Anselm Chan, Dickson Leung, Herbert Leung, Anastasia Tsang
Screening: The Last Dance, YUM Investigation, Stuntman, Remember What I Forgo, Long Arm of the Law, Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In, Love Lies, Peg O’ My Heart
The “Hong Kong Film Gala” was held in Singapore from 20 to 24 November, in collaboration with the Singapore Film Society (SFS), and with support from the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDAHK), Film Development Fund (FDF) and the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) in Singapore. The event showcased eight Hong Kong films. Headlining the screening was the opening film Anselm Chan’s “The Last Dance”, the lineup also included Dickson Leung’s “YUM Investigation”, Albert Leung and Herbert Leung’s “Stuntman”, Keian Chui’s “Remember What I Forgot”, Johnny Mak‘s “Long Arm of the Law”, Soi Cheang’s “Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In”, Ho Miu Ki‘s “Love Lies”, and Nick Cheung’s “Peg O’ My Heart”.
The opening ceremony commenced on November 20 at GV Suntec City in Singapore, welcoming an enthusiastic audience of film lovers and creating a vibrant atmosphere. Hong Kong filmmakers, including director Anselm Chan from “The Last Dance”, Dickson Leung from “YUM Investigation”, director Herbert Leung and screenwriter Anastasia Tsang from “Stuntman”, were present to engage with local audience.
At the opening ceremony, Alfred Tang, the Deputy Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Singapore, and Kenneth Tan, the Chairman of the Singapore Film Society, each delivered an opening speech. Deputy Director Mr. Tang expressed appreciation to the Singapore Film Society for its support of the Hong Kong Film Gala Presentation, highlighting how the programme fosters cultural exchange and development between the film industries of both regions. Chairman Mr. Tan mentioned the keen anticipation among Singaporean audiences for Hong Kong film screenings.
Other distinguished guests included Alex Feng, Senior Manager at the Infocomm Media Development Authority; Irene Tay, Marketing Director of Sony Pictures Entertainment Singapore; Lim Teck, Chief Executive Officer of Clover Films, a leading film production company in Singapore; Song Ting, Senior Manager at Golden Village Pictures; Sharon Ng, Festival Marketer at the Singapore International Film Festival; Calvin Choi, Chief Executive Officer of L’Officiel; Tzang Merwyn Tong, a renowned local director; and Zhu Houren, a famous local actor.
The opening film “The Last Dance” has been the talk of the town. During the post-screening Q&A, director Anselm Chan shared that the story was inspired by his emotional struggles during the pandemic, a time when he experienced profound personal loss. He also reflected on his unique collaboration with lead actors Dayo Wong and Michael Hui. Anselm revealed that the version currently screening is actually the 49th edition, following extensive debates about the ending, as the original plot was considered too heartbreaking. This ultimately resulted in a more hopeful conclusion for the final version.
In the post-screening Q&A of “Yum Investigation,” director Dickson Leung shared how he drew inspiration from a local novel, weaving together different stories to build the film’s framework. To adapt a novel into a 90- to 100-minute feature film while incorporating multiple elements, Dickson admitted he had to sacrifice certain nuances to maintain narrative flow. He also discussed the use of colour palettes during both filming and post-production, which enriched the visual experience. He hopes the audience can feel the emotional tension through these visual techniques and gain a deeper understanding of the creative process.
Director Herbert Leung and screenwriter Anastasia Tsang reflected on the creative journey of “Stuntman” during the Q&A session, sharing their desire to revive the legacy of Hong Kong action films. They also discussed how the film evolved to center on a mentor-apprentice relationship, aiming to authentically portray the stunt performer community. Herbert highlighted the collaboration with Stephen Tung Wai, a renowned stuntman, saying, “His participation allowed us to craft more nuanced characters and vividly depict the challenges stunt performers encounter.”
Three Hong Kong filmmakers, Anselm Chan, Dickson Leung, and Anastasia Tsang, hosted a lively session titled “Contemporary Directing and Screenwriting in Hong Kong: Aspirations, Challenges, Opportunities” at LASALLE College of the Arts, offering students valuable insights into the rewards and challenges of filmmaking. The talk began with each filmmaker sharing their unique journeys into the industry. They unanimously agreed that the script is the heart and soul of a film, stressing the need for a director to deeply understand the script. The filmmakers also discussed how they tackle challenges in scriptwriting and communication. Reflecting on the evolving spirit of Hong Kong cinema, they shared that contemporary Hong Kong cinema now focuses on emotional connections and storytelling. Their experiences inspired students to pursue their cinematic dreams.
In addition to the campus talk, the Hong Kong filmmakers visited Infinite Studios, one of the country’s largest production companies. During their visit, they discussed the industry’s current state and Singapore’s production system with local filmmakers, learning strategies to navigate the small market, such as collaborating with overseas companies. They explored Infinite Studios’ Immersive Studio, which uses virtual screens to eliminate on-site shooting, opening new possibilities for film production.
The Hong Kong filmmakers also networked with industry professionals during a networking lunch, deepening their exchange of ideas. Lim Teck, Executive Director of Clover Films, shared insights on the Southeast Asian market and audience preferences for Chinese-language films. They discussed differences in audience tastes between Hong Kong and Singapore and explored future collaboration opportunities. They also engaged with notable Singaporean filmmakers, including director Derrick Lui, Galen Yeo and Khim Loh of The Moving Visuals Co., and Goh Ming Siu of Monkey & Boar, fostering connections and future collaboration possibilities.
During their visit, the guests were also interviewed by several Singaporean media outlets, including Shin Min Daily News, the Singapore Film Society, L’Officiel Singapore, Zaobao, Radio Television Hong Kong, and Capital 958 Radio Show hosted by DJ Lingzhi. These interviews offered Singaporean audiences a deeper understanding of Hong Kong film production and its profound emotional resonance.
The “Hong Kong Film Gala Presentation” in Singapore featured a promotional booth from November 15 to 24 at the Suntec City East Atrium (near Promenade MRT). The booth showcased posters of various Hong Kong films released this year, offering Singaporeans a glimpse into the rich diversity of Hong Kong cinema.
Screening Information:
Date: November 20-24
Venue：GV Suntec (3 Temasek Boulevard #03-373 Suntec City Mall Singapore 038983 (East Wing, Tower 4, Level 3))
Tickets: SGD 18.50 per ticket; Golden Village members can enjoy a discounted price of SGD 16.50; Singapore Film Society members can enjoy a discounted price of SGD 16
Language: Dialogues in Cantonese, with Chinese and English Subtitle
Leaflet
Asian Film Awards Academy
The Asian Film Awards Academy, a non-profit organization, was founded by Busan, Hong Kong and Tokyo International Film Festivals with the shared goal of celebrating excellence in Asian cinema. Aiming to promote and recognise Asian films and its talents, AFAA highlights, strengthens and develops Asian film industry through the annual Asian Film Awards and several year-round initiatives.
Our year-round events and programmes are held with the objectives to promote Asian films to a wider audience, expand the film market within Asia, and build and sustain connections among Hong Kong and international film professional. Masterclass Series – in conversation with filmmakers, Journey to the fest – Student Visit to International Film Festivals, Asian Cinerama – Film Roadshow, and Young Film Professionals Programme – overseas training and work-placement, are examples of our year-round programmes. These programmes could not have held successfully without the financial support of Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA), formerly known as Create Hong Kong, and Film Development Fund (FDF) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government. AFAA has worked to promote, educate, inform and develop knowledge, skills and interest in Asian cinema among the industry, students and audiences in Asia and beyond with the support of film festivals and cultural organizations.
Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency
CCIDA, formerly known as Create Hong Kong is established in June 2024and is a dedicated office set up by the HKSAR Government under the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau. It provides one-stop services and support to the cultural and creative industries with a mission to foster a conductive environment in Hong Kong to facilitate the development of arts, cultural and creative sectors as industries.
Film Development Fund
The FDF was first set up by the Government in 1999 to support projects conducive to the long-term development of the film industry in Hong Kong. Since 2005, the HKSAR Government has injected a total of $1.54 billion into FDF to support Hong Kong’s film industry along four strategic directions, namely nurturing talent, enhancing local production, expanding markets and building audience. In the past, FDF has supported a number of film productions and other film-related projects through various film production funding schemes and other film-related project schemes.
The Singapore Film Society
SFS is the longest-established organiser of film festivals in Singapore. For over 60 years, SFS has conceptualised, curated, planned, programmed, marketed, and helped a wide range of event partners – such as theatrical distributors, cinema exhibitors, diplomatic missions, arts and cultural groups, charities and social service agencies – to showcase a year-round line-up of cutting-edge movies from all over the world.
SFS’ flagship events include our European, Japanese, and Singapore Chinese Film Festivals. We also organise national premieres, limited-session showcases, advocacy screenings, public dialogues, and so much more. SFS aims to promote film appreciation, bridge the gap between art-house cinema and the commercial film industry, and advocate for film as an important medium for educating and sparking crucial conversations.
Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Singapore
Set up in 1995, the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Singapore seeks to strengthen the bilateral relations between Hong Kong and three countries of ASEAN, namely Laos, Singapore and Vietnam, as well as India. We aim to promote closer economic and trade ties, understanding and co-operation, as well as to enhance cultural exchanges and people-to-people ties with the four countries under our purview. On the investment front, we provide information, support and assistance to corporations and individuals looking to start or expand their businesses in Hong Kong or in Mainland China via Hong Kong. A dedicated team has been set up to attract strategic enterprises and talents from overseas to Hong Kong. The regional desk of the Hong Kong Shipping Registry in our office also helps strengthen the presence of Hong Kong Flag and promote the Hong Kong Shipping Register in the region.
Please contact us if any questions,
Email: info@afa-academy.com
Tel: +852 3195 0608
Website: www.afa-academy.com
