San Francisco's annual Hong Kong Cinema series will take place from July 12 to August 5 (San Francisco time) as an online showcase of four Hong Kong films, complete with live-streamed moderated conversations with film directors or special guests. SFFILM and the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, San Francisco announced the line-up on July 8 (San Francisco time) in a virtual preview night.

     Though unable to be held as an in-person event due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year's programme offers unique opportunities to virtually engage with Hong Kong talent in front of and behind the camera.

     "Though COVID-19 creates numerous hurdles for us all, it's exciting that this year's Hong Kong Cinema seeks to reach its widest audience yet since we are not limited to one geographic region," the Associate Director of Programming at SFFILM, Mr Rod Armstrong, said. "It's also thrilling that we'll be able to have guests for every screening so that attendees can get the broadest perspective possible of current filmmaking trends in the region."

     The four movies in the line-up are "Still Human", "Twilight's Kiss" (a.k.a. "Suk Suk"), "Lion Rock" and "Mad World". Ticket buyers and registrants will be sent private links to stream each film online, and will be provided access to the respective live-streamed Q&A session with filmmakers and special guests from Hong Kong.  

     The weekly online screenings will have the following moderated conversations with speakers including key cast members as highlights: 

July 12, 5pm (San Francisco Time): Q&A with Crisel Consunji, lead actress of "Still Human" 
July 22, 7pm (San Francisco Time): Q&A with Ray Yeung, director of "Twilight's Kiss"
July 29, 7pm (San Francisco Time): Q&A with Nick Leung, director of "Lion Rock", as well as lead actor Alex Lam and subject Lai Chi-wai
August 5, 7pm (San Francisco Time): Q&A with Wong Chun, director of "Mad World"

     The Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, San Francisco, Mr Ivanhoe Chang, said, "Amid the pandemic, we are thrilled to be able to continue this annual festival by moving it online and that film directors, cast members and a special guest in Hong Kong will be able to join the live-streamed conversations. This truly connects us across the Pacific."

     He added, "Our office is committed to continue promoting Hong Kong movies to a wider audience and this online edition will surely serve the purpose."

     He said he was grateful for the dedicated effort of SFFILM and its appreciation of Hong Kong movies and emerging talents. Two movies in the line-up were winning projects of the First Feature Film Initiative, launched by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government in 2013 to identify and nurture talent through a competition focusing on screenplays and production proposals. 

     The 10th anniversary edition of Hong Kong Cinema is presented by SFFILM in association with the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, San Francisco. For complete programme details, please visit sffilm.org/presents.

Ends/Friday, July 10, 2020
Issued at HKT 6:04

NNNN