Hong Kong: Last News

DEAN recently debuted an unreleased song during a live concert in Hong Kong, telling fans that its his “upcoming single”.DEAN recently performed in Hong Kong as part of the line-up for Hypefest 2024 on November 9, alongside the likes of numerous other Asian artists such as Japanese group One or Eight, Peggy Gou, Sunkis and more. During the show, the singer performed an unreleased song, one which is set to be his next single.“Hong Kong, that was a special song only for Hypefest,” he shared with the crowd during his set. “It’s the acoustic version of my upcoming single.” However, DEAN remained tight-lipped about remaining details of the song, including its release date.Hongkong, that was a special song just only for hypefest.

Naman Ramachandran Southeast Asian folklore meets Taiwanese culture in “Pontianaks in Taiwan,” a mini-series that follows two undead supernatural beings on a road trip across Taiwan. The project, currently in development, is being presented at the Taiwan Creative Content Fest (TCCF). The series centers on two Pontianaks – bloodthirsty female vampires from Malay folklore – who leave Singapore in search of a new home in Taiwan.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief “Tape,” a Hong Kong remake of Richard Linklater’s iconic 2001 psychological thriller film of the same title, is heading for the American Film Market and theatrical release in its adopted territory. In anticipation of those steps, the producers are unreeling a “Tape” trailer. “Tape” explores the fallout from a traumatic event at a high school graduation party, forcing the three former friends to confront their past in a story that delves into themes of power, manipulation, and the subjective nature of truth.

Naman Ramachandran A new project examining the decline of Vietnam’s state-run film industry and its impact on veteran filmmakers is being developed by director Vu Minh Nghia, set for production in 2025. “Waiting for Godard” follows a young independent director who interviews former filmmakers from the Vietnam Feature Film Studio, exploring the aftermath of the studio’s 2017 sale to a transportation company – a move that left numerous industry veterans unemployed. The project is selected for Taipei’s Taiwan Creative Content Fest (TCCF) where it is part of the Taiwan Creative Content Agency (TAICCA) and Produire au Sud feature film pitch.

Naman Ramachandran Taiwan-Italy production outfit Volos Films has unveiled a diverse slate of features and documentaries at the Taiwan Creative Content Fest (TCCF). The feature film lineup includes “Polaris,” directed by Yamanaka Yoko, whose “Desert of Namibia” screened at Cannes’ Directors’ Fortnight. Set in a Tokyo bar, the film follows women from different backgrounds whose lives intersect.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief “Venom: The Last Dance” held top spot at the mainland China box office for the second consecutive weekend. It beat newly released Andy Lau-starring thriller “Cesium Fallout.” “Venom: The Last Dance” earned RMB104 million ($14.6 million) over the weekend, according to data from consultancy service Artisan Gateway. That is more than 50% lower than its debut weekend, but still lifts the film to a $70.8 million cumulative after 12 days on release.

Tokyo International Film Festival and its accompanying TIFFCOM industry event might have been forgiven for being a little soggy. But spirits were rarely dampened.

Richard Kuipers The almost unimaginable grief of a husband and father is chronicled in “Papa,” an affecting drama based on the true story of a 15-year-old boy whose murder of his mother and sister shocked Hong Kong in 2010. Featuring an outstanding lead performance by Sean Lau, “Papa” is played in a low key that produces high emotional impact — giving great depth and complexity to its protagonist’s unwavering determination to still love his son and understand what caused this tragedy.

Touted as Hong Kong’s first radiation-disaster blockbuster, Anthony Pun’s Cesium Fallout chronicles the political and frontline responses to a national catastrophe as it unfolds on the outskirts of the city. Emulating the blockbusters of Irwin Allen and Roland Emmerich, the rampant urban destruction is complemented by a star-studded ensemble of some of the local industry’s most prominent talent. Andy Lau takes top billing as the scientist drafted to advise Karen Mok’s bullheaded politician when a fire breaks out in a landfill site riddled with illegal radioactive waste. As the leadership bickers over the appropriate response and who is to be reprimanded, it falls to the blue collar heroes of the Hong Kong Fire Services Department to tackle the inferno head on.

Call The Midwife fans will be getting an extra special Christmas treat this year – instead of the usual feature-length Christmas episode, there will be two hour long specials shown on BBC One over the festive period, and the producers are even promising a Yuletide cliffhanger. The two episodes, which are coming before a new 14th season of the series in the new year, take place in Christmas 1969 before the show moves into the 1970s next year.The midwives of Nonnatus House are busy delivering babies just as the funfair comes to Poplar, adding fun to the frosty landscape.

A British businessman was ordered to remain in custody on Friday after being charged with murder in Hong Kong, following the death of an Indonesian woman at a park waterfall. Jamie Tzewee Chapman, 34, did not enter a plea during his court appearance and his lawyer did not request bail.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Purin Pictures, a non-profit film fund supporting independent cinema in Southeast Asia, has unveiled $170,000 of grants in its autumn funding round. Its reading committee chose three fiction and two documentary projects for production support and one fiction project for post-production support. The fiction films are “Daughters of the Sea,” a story of three intertwined lives, to be directed by Martika Ramirez Escobar (“Leonor Will Never Die”) and produced by Monster Jimenez and Rajiv Idnani, through Philippines company Arkeo Films; writer-director and editor Daniel Hui’s “Other People’s Dreams,” about two runaways who become invisible thieves in Singapore, produced by Tan Si En at Momo Film; and “Sitora,” by Diffan Sina Norman, a drama about the oldest member of a village community which is about to be consumed by the urban sprawl. The project is to be produced by Tara Ansley, Armen Aghaeian, Zurina Ramli through Malaysian firm Rangka Pictures. The two documentaries receiving production support of $15,000 each are “Black River,” directed by Tran Phuong Thao, and “When a Poet Goes to War,” by Myanmar’s Aung Naing Soe. With production by Swann Dubus through Varan Vietnam, “Black River” follows merchants who use old boats to set up temporary markets in the territories of Vietnam’s ethnic minorities.

Hong Kong martial arts legend Sammo Hung, prolific Japanese martial arts actor Yasuaki Kurata and action director Kenji Tanigaki discussed martial arts cinema and shared behind-the-scenes anecdotes together in Tokyo.

Carole Horst Kicking off Nov. 13, the Asian World Film Festival sports features from 27 countries with its main competition screening 16 films submitted for the international feature Oscar. The festival runs through Nov.

Hong Kong filmmaker Johnnie To talked through his long career, including his free-wheeling style of shooting, in conversation with Japanese director Yu Irie at Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF). He also acknowledged that Hong Kong filmmakers now have less freedom than they once had. 

Naman Ramachandran Veteran director Johnnie To discussed the challenges of filmmaking under increased regulation in Hong Kong during a conversation with Japanese filmmaker Yu Irie at the Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF). “There is a lot of regulation in Hong Kong, especially when it comes to expression,” To said Thursday when asked about balancing culture with freedom. “You have to think about what you are going to say carefully.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Veteran action movie ace Sammo Hung, Japanese actor Kurata Yasuaki and action choreographer-turned director Tanigaki Kenji had a ball on Thursday in Tokyo as they took a light-hearted trip down memory lane to discuss the state of martial art action movies from Hong Kong. In a panel discussion held in the confines of TIFFCOM, the rights market aligned with the Tokyo International Film Festival, the three were seemingly selected to represent the past, present and future of the genre. “Hong Kong’s place in the film world is well deserved.

Naman Ramachandran Modern Films has taken on the film adaptation of Jessica Au’s award-winning novel “Cold Enough for Snow,” with theater veteran Jemima James set to make her feature directorial debut. The project is at TIFFCOM‘s Tokyo Gap-Financing Market. The source material, which won the inaugural Novel Prize from publishers Fitzcarraldo Editions, New Directions and Giramondo, follows a mother and daughter’s journey through Tokyo as they navigate their complex relationship amid autumn rains and modern art galleries.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Hong Kong-based sales firm Cappu Films will use TIFFCOM, the rights market attached to the Tokyo International Film Festival, to launch world sales activities on two films that were recently at the Busan festival. Psychological thriller “Waterdrop,” was winner of two awards at the Busan festival earlier this month while crime comedy “So It Goes” was competitor in the Jiseok Award section. Cappu was founded by independent filmmaker Janice Woo in 2018 and has offices in Hong Kong, Beijing and Los Angeles. It focuses on rising filmmakers and genre films and television with global appeal and has activities that that span international sales and distribution.

In a year in which two of world cinema’s oldest industries, Japan and Italy, have signed a long-awaited co-production treaty, jury members at this year’s Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) were talking up the importance of both film history and the theatrical experience on the first full day of the festival. 

Ildiko Enyedi heaped praise on the film and talent discovery functions of major film festivals like the Tokyo International Film Festival, where Tuesday she started her role as a jury member. “Festivals are the allies of the filmmakers. They help to uncover the truth of our work as filmmakers.