ASIAN FILM AWARDS ACADEMY
The Asian Film Awards Academy (AFAA), a non-profit organisation, 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 professionals. 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 the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDAHK), formerly known as Create Hong Kong, and Film Development Fund (FDF) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government. The 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 organisations.
HONG KONG FILM GALA PRESENTATION
The Hong Kong Film Gala Presentation, presented by the Asian Film Awards Academy, with the financial support from the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency, formerly known as Create Hong Kong, and Hong Kong Film Development Fund, is a touring film programme that showcases the exceptional creative talents of Hong Kong filmmakers to diverse audiences across different regions. Our mission is to establish strong relations and bring together film professionals from ASEAN countries and Hong Kong for an in-depth discussion of the art of cinema and collaboration. Since 2021, we have been to international cities such as Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Cambodia and so on.
CULTURAL AND CREATIVE INDUSTRIES DEVELOPMENT AGENCY (CCIDAHK)
The Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDAHK), established in June 2024 and formerly known as Create Hong Kong, is a dedicated office set up by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) 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 conducive environment in Hong Kong to facilitate the development of arts, culture and creative sectors as industries.
FILM DEVELOPMENT FUND (FDF)
The Film Development Fund (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 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.
HONG KONG ECONOMIC AND TRADE OFFICE IN DUBAI
The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Dubai, established in 2021, is the official representative of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China in the six member states of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC), namely Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The office works to promote and strengthen Hong Kong’s economic, trade and cultural ties with the GCC countries, and to enhance the understanding of Hong Kong’s unique advantages to the GCC states.
HONG KONG FILM GALA PRESENTATION
DUBAI
PRESENTED BY IN COLLABORATION WITH
FINANCIALLY SUPPORTED BY PROMOTIONAL PARTNER
DIRECTOR
Da Peng LAM Ka Tung
ZHANG Songwen QI Xi
DIRECTOR’S BIOGRAPHY
LI has been involved in more than 30 films, including many classics such as Infernal Affairs III, The Lost Bladesman, and The Silent War. In 2017, he made his directorial debut with The Brink, which participated in several international film festivals and was selected as an exhibiting film at the Busan International Film Festival, where it held its world premiere. The Brink was also nominated for Best New Director and Best Action Choreography at the 37th Hong Kong Film Awards.
DUST TO DUST
In 1995, a large armed robbery occurred in Guangdong. A bank cash truck was robbed by five armed robbers, causing a loss of $15 million and three bank’s escorts were killed. The incident shocked the whole country, the Police immediately set up a task force, led by WANG Shouyue and HE Lan, and quickly found the whereabouts of the five robbers, except the real mastermind behind the case, the owner of a construction company, CHEN Xinwen, and his cousin CHEN Xinnian. CHEN Xinwen and CHEN Xinnian embarked on the road to escape, and has since evaporated. Twenty-one years later, the case has long faded from the public, and WANG Shouyue also retired. However, a usual video with a blurred figure rekindled his hope of solving the case. He went to the border city to look for the “stranger” in the video. The final showdown between good and evil begins after twenty-one years.
UAE Premiere
CANTONESE
CAST
Sandra NG
CHEUNG Tin Fu
Stephy TANG
Miu HO started working as a film screenwriter in 2008. She has written screenplays for films such as La Comédie humaine, Naked Ambition 2 and The Mermaid. She was nominated for Best Screenplay at the 36th Hong Kong Film Awards for The Mermaid Love Lies is her directorial debut.
LOVE LIES
Despite being swindled out of a large sum of money, the well-known gynecologist YU still insisted that she was in love. YU, who had been widowed for several years, met Joe, who was disguised as a middleaged French petroleum engineer and widower, on a dating app, not knowing that he was part of an online scam group. Not only was YU immersed in the online romance, but Joe also found pleasure and satisfaction in creating romantic experiences for YU. Two initially unlikable people gradually changed through this online romance that began with deception.
UAE Premiere
DIRECTOR
Andy LO
CHAN
Andy LO was born in Hong Kong in 1974. Gorgeous directed by Vincent KOK Tak chiu is his debut screenplay. Thereafter, LO has written for many directors, such as My Wife is 18 and Crazy n’ the City. In 2013, LO made his directorial debut with Hardcore Comedy, a feature film which consists of three short stories completed by different directors. He later came up with a story about a job-seeking youth and a woman suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and the resulting debut directed by him was Happiness
ONCE IN A BLUE MOON
Mei chen’s family seems fine on the surface, but everyone is secretly struggling. Mei chen is trapped in a dead-end job with a toxic boss; her brother won’t tell his family that he has separated from his wife; and Mei chen’s mother is worried that her untold past may shatter her family. Compassionate and hilarious, this is a dramedy with a comforting message about learning to let go.
UAE Premiere
DIRECTOR
Albert LEUNG
Herbert LEUNG
ACTION, DRAMA
114 MIN CANTONESE
CAST
Terrance LAU
TUNG Wai
Cecilia CHOI
Philip NG
Albert LEUNG is a stuntman who has appeared in numerous Hong Kong films and directed several independent films. At the 5th Fresh Wave International Short Film Festival and Hong Kong Microfilm Awards’ creation support scheme, Albert was appointed as director and his previous works have been shown as part of PiFan’s IT Project financing programme. Other works include Jinn, Time Stopper and Escape, which was awarded at several international film festivals. Albert served as a B-team executive director in 2019’s iQIYI television show Lovely Swords Girl.
Herbert LEUNG has over 16 years of experience in television and short film producing and directing. Herbert, with his art design background, tells compelling short and long stories. Herbert has produced several short films such as Gloomy Sunday and Blind Spot, which received international praise at various film festivals.
STUNTMAN
Sam was the undisputed king of stunt choreography during the golden era of Hong Kong action cinema in the 80s, infamous for over bearing and demanding. After a devastating stunt accident, Sam steps away from the industry. Now, his old friend, a veteran director, has persuaded him to work as the stunt choreographer on his last film. The only catch is the film stars Wai - Sam’s former stunt crew member who has since become a famous action star. By chance, Sam crosses paths with a young, ambitious Long, and asks him to be his assistant. Long is caught between the rivalries of the two and at the same time helps Sam to reconcile with his estranged daughter. Sam must confront his past and mend fences with Wai in order to deliver an epic final action spectacle for the director’s swansong.
UAE Premiere
DIRECTOR
Nick CHEUK DRAMA 95 MIN
CANTONESE CAST
LO Chun Yip
Ronald CHENG
Hanna CHAN
Rosa Maria Velasco
Nick CHEUK is a member of the Hong Kong Screenwriters’ Guild, he is also the scriptwriter of Paradox and Zombiology: Enjoy Yourself Tonight. He is the Creative Director of the 38th Hong Kong Film Awards. In 2022, Nick wrote his directorial debut Time Still Turns the Pages. The film received the Golden Horse Audience Choice Award at the 60th Golden Horse Awards and five nominations. Nick also earned the honour of Best New Director.
TIME STILL TURNS THE PAGES
High school teacher Mr. CHENG finds an anonymous suicide note in the classroom. Having lived under the shadow of his abusive father and been incapable of protecting his mother, he understands the desperate sadness and desire of committing suicide. He strives hard to prevent another tragedy from happening while facing a series of family problems, including his broken marriage and dying father.
Childhood traumas are real and can keep haunting us. But only we can save ourselves. Produced by renowned director Derek YEE, Nick CHEUK’s directorial debut looks into debilitating childhood trauma and redemption.
UAE Premiere
DIRECTOR
Delon SIU
YIP Tung
TSE Kwan Ho
HUI Yuet Sheung
Himmy WONG
In 2015, Delon SIU served as the costume designer for Wah Chuen LAM’ s mainland web film Bros on the Run vs. Zombie Gangsters. In 2016, he took on the roles of production and costume director for the mainland’s film Unaware Control, which was part of the main competition at the 41st Monterey International Film Festival, as well as contributed to the script, production and costume direction for several mainland web films.
In 2020, he served as the screenwriter, production and costume designer for One Second Accident, it was directed by Danny LEE Sau Yin. In 2021, he worked as the production and costume director for Fruit CHAN’s movie Tales from the Occult, while also referencing the director’s other film writing. In 2023, he directed his first feature film, True Love, for Once in My Life its produced by Fruit CHAN and starring YIP Tung and TSE Kwan Ho.
TRUE LOVE, FOR ONCE IN MY LIFE
Fate has arranged for the childhood sweethearts to come together, allowing them to become a couple in the end. However, the cruel reality plays tricks on them. Finally, after enduring all the pain from injuries, separation, and illness, it turns out that true love is the strength that carries them through the final journey of life.
UAE Premiere
DIRECTOR
John
CHOW
John WOO was a legendary action director in the Hong Kong film industry long before immigrating to Hollywood to direct his first American film, Hard Target Reportedly the first Asian to direct a major Hollywood studio film, WOO made his name with action-packed in Hong Kong, emotionally florid thrillers like A Better Tomorrow, The Killer, A Bullet in the Head and Hard-Boiled.
Enthusiastically embraced by English-speaking critics, WOO was a bold visual stylist who learned his meticulous choreography of movement, graceful camera moves and over-the-top violence. Though soaked in blood, his films were marked by old-fashioned morality and chastely gallant attitudes toward women, while, even among villains, valuing friendship and loyalty.
A BETTER TOMORROW HONG KONG CLASSICS:
A remake of Patrick Lung Kong’s Story of a Discharged Prisoner, John WOO’s masterpiece is widely recognized as a pioneer in the heroic bloodshed genre and a true essential in Hong Kong cinema.
The script defies the cliché of the fallen hero rising once more by telling the tragic story of Mark and Ho, two fallen gangsters who are beaten down and live the rest of their lives merely trying to survive another day. Though a glorified depiction of loyalty and brotherhood in the underworld, the film also doesn’t shy away from showing the violent betrayals within it. An influential work that created a whole generation of young men dressed in trench coats and sunglasses, A Better Tomorrow is the perfect hybrid of romanticism and tragedy in action cinema.
4K Restoration
WONG Kar Wai
98 MIN
CANTONESE CAST
Tony LEUNG
Maggie CHEUNG
Born in Shanghai, WONG Kar Wai is an icon of auteur cinema from Hong Kong. His first film, As Tears Goes By, debuted in 1988. His second film, Days Of Being Wild, won five Hong Kong film awards. His film Chungking Express marked his international breakout. He won Best Director at Cannes for Happy Together and saw global success with In the Mood for Love, earned various international awards.
HONG KONG CLASSICS:
IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE
In bustling 1962 Hong Kong, CHOW Mo Wan moves into a new apartment with his wife. The same day SU Li Zhen moves in next door with her husband. The two have no real relationship – they pass each other on the stairway going out to get food – until both suddenly grasp that their spouses are having an affair together. As they begin meeting to ponder this shared infidelity, Li Zhen and Mo Wan start to feel emotions they are not sure they can, or should, express.
NEW HORIZONS: THE FUTURE OF STORYTELLING IN HONG KONG CINEMA
Get ready for an exciting deep dive into the cutting edge of Hong Kong’s film scene. This forum brings together visionary directors Jonathan LI and Delon SIU, alongside breakout star Gladys LI and film critic Kevin Ma, who are reshaping the future of storytelling in one of the world’s most dynamic film industries. We’ll explore the bold new trends driving Hong Kong cinema today, and how the city’s gritty urban landscape and rich cultural backdrop are transforming the way stories come to life on screen.
Join us for an inspiring conversation with industry insiders as they open up about their creative journeys, the challenges and opportunities they face, and where the future of filmmaking in Hong Kong is headed. This is your chance to get an insider’s view of a cinematic movement that continues to captivate audiences around the world.
Date: 5 November 2024
Time: 5:00 - 8:30 PM
Venue: American University of Sharjah (AUS)
Language: English
Moderator: Mohammed Mamdouh
GUEST SPEAKERS
Delon SIU Director, True Love, for Once in My Life
Gladys LI Actress, Once in a Blue Moon
Jonathan LI Director, Dust to Dust
Kevin MA Hong Kong Film Critic
SCREENING SCHEDULE
7:00 PM 7:15 PM 10:00 PM ONCE IN A BLUE MOON
TIME STILL TURNS THE PAGES
TICKETING INFORMATION
* Filmmaker(s) will attend the screening. All films are shown in original language with Chinese and English subtitles. All films are screened at Cinema Akil. Each ticket is priced at AED52.5 + VAT. For detailed information, please refer to the official websites and Instagram of the Asian Film Awards Academy and Cinema Akil (www.cinemaakil.com).