SIFFORUM | Recommendations and Networking to Help Hong Kong Cinema Break Regional Barriers and Reach Broader Markets

On the morning of June 18, the “Hong Kong New Power Projects Showcase” was held at the 27th Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF), organized by the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency of Hong Kong and Hong Kong Film Development Council. This event not only served as a platform to showcase upcoming Hong Kong film projects, but also offered a stage for Hong Kong film talent to shine, injecting new vitality into the city’s film industry. By promoting five diverse films spanning genres such as romance, suspense, action, and animation, the event built a bridge for deep collaboration between Hong Kong and mainland China’s film industries. It aims to help Hong Kong cinema transcend geographical limitations and access broader markets, playing a significant and positive role in advancing high-quality development of Hong Kong cinema and promoting cultural and industrial synergy between the two regions.

Mak Sing hei, Assistant Commissioner for Cultural and Creative Industries of the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency of Hong Kong and Secretary-General of Hong Kong Film Development Council, and Ding Kai, General Manager of Sil-Metropole Organisation Ltd., attended and delivered speeches. The event was also attended by Tang Mo-kui,  Director of Film and Television at Bauhinia Culture Group, and Chen Guo, Director of Shanghai International Film & TV Festivals, Co., Ltd. Guests of honor included producer and CEO of Bona Film Group Jiang Defu, producer and Senior Vice President of iQIYI Ya Ning, and renowned Hong Kong director and producer Anselm Chan. The event was hosted by Guo Wei, a presenter from China Movie Channel.

Mak Sing hei

Assistant Commissioner for Cultural and Creative Industries of the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency of Hong Kong 

Secretary-General of Hong Kong Film Development Council

The Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Film Development Council are committed to promoting the development of Hong Kong’s film industry. Through various funding schemes, they encourage the new generation of creators to produce high-quality works and step onto a broader stage. SIFF is an important platform for fostering cultural exchange through cinema. It has long been actively involved in providing opportunities for showcasing and nurturing Hong Kong films and talent. This year, five in-development Hong Kong films were presented: The Marriage Drive, Open Fire, The Excreman - On the Road, Altarage, and Prison of Love. These works span a variety of genres - including romance, suspense, action, and animation - and aim to promote the high-quality co-development of Hong Kong and mainland film industries.

Ding Kai

General Manager, Sil-Metropole Organisation Ltd.

For many years, the Hong Kong SAR Government has provided strong support for the development of the local film industry through the Film Development Fund, particularly in nurturing young directors. This has opened the first door to careers for many young talents. However, the advancement of Hong Kong cinema requires the joint efforts of the entire industry. Today’s “Hong Kong New Power Projects Showcase” offers a great opportunity, and I believe this platform will give rise to even more outstanding Hong Kong film projects.

The 5 Featured Films

The Marriage Drive

Directors: Lawrence Kwan Chun-kan | Producer: Yim Ka-nim 

Cotton Tree Drive is a key traffic artery in Hong Kong Island connecting Admiralty to Mid-Levels. It is widely known for the “Cotton Tree Drive Marriage Registry” and is surrounded by accounting and law firms. The film follows Ah Cho and the female lead, a lawyer, who met and fell in love here 12 years ago, eventually getting married. Like many young professionals in the area chasing their dreams, they dedicated themselves to their careers while finding moments of romance amid the hustle. However, as time went on, cracks began to appear in their relationship, eventually leading to divorce.

Director Lawrence Kwan Chun-kan explained that this film presents a balanced portrayal of a couple’s 12-year emotional journey, capturing not only sweetness and anticipation but also helplessness and finality. The film aims to reflect the complexity and multifaceted nature of married life.

It is worth noting that last year, Lawrence Kwan Chun-kan’s film In Broad Daylight achieved both commercial success and critical acclaim. The film received 16 nominations at the 42nd Hong Kong Film Awards and ultimately won three major awards: Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Supporting Actress. Given this success, his new project, The Marriage Drive, has drawn strong interest from the guest mentors. Jiang Defu, producer and CEO of Bona Film Group, remarked that The Marriage Drive carries both joy and sorrow - it is a microcosm of life’s journey. He felt the location choice was meaningful and suggested the director enhance the dramatic elements of the story while making it more relatable to the general public to expand its market appeal.

Open Fire

Director: Paul Sze

Born in the slums, fire chief Sin Chi-fung lost his loved ones in a fire during childhood, which inspired him to become a firefighter dedicated to protecting his community. Meanwhile, Han Yiming, an Interpol officer, has spent years battling the terrorist Sora, seeking justice for his fallen comrades. During a fierce confrontation between Interpol and the terrorists in the slums, a massive fire breaks out. Sin and Han are forced to work together. Although reliant on each other, they also become a burden to one another, navigating their conflicts while facing the crisis together. Open Fire explores the multifaceted and complex nature of justice. It also brings to life dynamic supporting characters, including Sin’s wife, aiming to break female stereotypes and highlight the human brilliance that emerges from ordinary heroes in times of adversity.

Director Paul Sze emphasized that the film possesses strong potential for internationalization. The flexibility of its filming locations is a key advantage - as long as the setting includes professions such as police officers and firefighters, antagonists or criminals, and slum-like environments, it can be adapted as a viable shooting site. The character Han Yiming was deliberately written as an Interpol officer to accommodate actors of various nationalities, thereby enhancing the project’s potential for international cooperation and investment. The script is already available in both Chinese and English versions, and the team is actively engaging with overseas investors and film companies. The goal is to maintain creative and distribution flexibility amid a rapidly changing market landscape and to fully tap into the global film market.

Ya Ning, producer and Senior Vice President of iQIYI, commented that Open Fire is a highly original commercial genre film, distinct from conventional police thrillers or firefighter dramas. He noted that if AI technology can be effectively used to manage the budget, the project holds tremendous potential.

The Excreman - On the Road

Producer: Samuel Choy

The animated film The Excreman - On the Road uses a distinctive style of dark humor to construct an imaginative world within the sewers, portraying the journey of “The Excreman” in search of a better life. It explores the philosophical question of whether there is truly such a thing as “the best” in life. The story follows a peaceful sewer society disrupted by the sudden arrival of a human cleaner. Eventually, the protagonist Ah-Or defeats the cleaner and takes over his human identity. He then begins a new life - studying, working, getting married, buying a house - only to discover that life among the humans is the same as it was in the sewers.

Producer Samuel Choy said that The Excreman - On the Road is targeted primarily at young audiences, with its core market being China and other Chinese-speaking regions. However, the film also shows promise in reaching non-traditional markets such as Europe and Southeast Asia.

Renowned Hong Kong director Anselm Chan expressed strong optimism for the project. He noted that the earlier film McDull and its character “The Excreman” were very popular in Hong Kong. He encouraged people not to judge the film solely by its title: “Children in every country laugh when they hear the word ‘Excreman’ - it makes them happy. And the characters are truly endearing. Jiang Defu also expressed high expectations for the film but advised the creators to carefully evaluate whether a title like The Excreman - On the Road would be widely accepted in the market, and whether a name change might be necessary.

Altarage

Director: Mandrew Kwan

Altarage draws inspiration from the coastal folklore of “Zhuo Yi Ren” (literally “hide-and-seek”), to craft a suspenseful psychological thriller. The story centers on Sprite, a young woman who grew up deprived of family warmth and yearns for love; Feynman, who appears gentle but harbors ulterior motives; and Liao Lipin, the ruthless leader of a powerful family. These three characters create intense dramatic conflict. While wrapped in the form of a thriller, the film delves into how individuals face choices and challenges in life, exploring themes of personal struggle and self-determination. The creative team aims to captivate audiences with a gripping storyline that sparks deep reflection on human nature, desire, and fate.

Mandrew Kwan noted that his earlier work The Remnant was told from a male perspective, but Altarage was written after the birth of his daughter, which gave him a distinctly female point of view. He also hopes the film will introduce audiences to the unique cultural folklore of Guangdong’s “Zhuo Yi Ren”.

Prison of Love

Director: Sunny Yip | Producer: Lawrence Ah Mon

To craft a compelling story, Prison of Love’s director Sunny Yip conducted interviews with female inmates. The film adopts a warm and emotionally resonant tone with a life-like narrative style, offering a deep exploration of the theme of rebirth. Through the story of Yip Bik-yan, a lost and confused woman who regains her sense of purpose with the arrival of new life, the film conveys the resilience of the human spirit and the transformative power of hope.

Sunny Yip revealed plans to invite acclaimed actresses such as Hedwig Tam and Karena Lam to play the lead roles. The film will primarily target the Chinese-speaking market, aiming to deliver a heartfelt and emotionally moving work to audiences.

Ya Ning noted that, compared with other films centered on women’s prisons, Prison of Love stands out by focusing on the everyday struggles of ordinary people and using a tender, empathetic storytelling approach to present a local Hong Kong narrative. However, he pointed out that the film’s current budget is somewhat high. Given that it doesn’t rely heavily on grand-scale scenes, reducing the cost could help mitigate project risk and, beyond solidifying its position in the Hong Kong market, potentially expand its reach to Cantonese-speaking regions in mainland China - thus opening up broader market and revenue opportunities.