The theme of this program is hookup films — stories of young men and women in the city, some by chance, others by design. Each work carries a strong sense of space: homes, subways, laundromats, saunas — online and offline, full of contemporary texture. Sex is the desire to live; when facing death, I feel small, and each night becomes a luxury. At some point, I stopped saying “forever” and began saying “the rest of my life,” though what remains may be only tonight. In one scene, he asks, “Why do you make films?” She answers, “Because I like it.” Because I like it — that’s how simple the reason is for this generation.
I’m inviting you to run away with me—but not to escape. To run is active, not passive; everyone who runs has somewhere they want to go—a *there* that differs from the here and now. Running is a force for change. The women gathered in this program are all runners in their own ways. They confront oppressive systems, unequal relationships, the discomforts and constraints of growing up… Some succeed in their escape, some don’t, some are still running and reflecting, and some wander between reality and another world. Let us watch these films and run with them—into the realities women live in, and toward the distant “elsewhere” they long for.
My Prince Edward
Tiger Stripes
In our limited time, how many things do we encounter that are truly worth dedicating our entire lives to? A deep affection for culture, the relentless pursuit of mastery in a craft, and a profound love for one's scene or hometown can all lead people to invest themselves wholeheartedly, becoming the driving force that keeps them moving forward without expecting anything in return. Hayao Miyazaki continuously explores the boundaries of imagination, while Ryuichi Sakamoto, even in the final stages of his life, continued to respond to the world through his music. The purity and passion of these creators are perhaps precisely why I'm so deeply fascinated, and why I want to share this collection of films. I hope you, too, can feel the creators' most genuine love in these works and discover your own passion.
When writing film reviews, I often criticize Chinese-language and Taiwanese films for being too prone to sentimentality and peddling warmth. However, when I watch movies, I'm often in a state of internal conflict. Which side of me—the cold and sharp, or the warm and sentimental—is more easily moved by a film? This film list covers coming-of-age movies, movies about movies, the various relationships between story and art, how authors tell their own stories, and how they integrate the perspective of their era to reflect social consciousness. These aren't exhaustive, but they largely explain my current thoughts on cinema.
Storytellers
Age of Panic
Lee Chang-dong: The Art of Irony
Labyrinth of Cinema
Farewell, My Lovely
Wild Tides
The world is on the brink of collapse. What do you see? In this chaotic era, reality often proves stranger than fiction. Human greed, anger, ignorance, and endless desires and attachments lead to all sorts of uncontrolled and absurd behaviors: authoritarianism reigns, fame and fortune are paramount, violence is rampant, human rights are trampled... The world is gradually collapsing, as if on the verge of destruction. Through cinema, these insane visions are recreated, and as we watch, we remind ourselves to preserve that last shred of kindness and humanity.
The Kingmaker
Bacurac
Holy Spider
The Teacher’s Lounge
And Miles to Go Before I Sleep
I’m drawn to those films where love is fearless and all-consuming—like an addiction I can’t escape… They believe in love, and love their beliefs. Every glance feels like it’s on fire.
These films document the everyday through diverse experimental forms, reflecting the entanglement of self, gender, and history. From the fissures of collective memory to fragments of perception, each work reimagines the boundary between life and politics, body and identity. Within the everyday lie emotion, memory, and unease — a quiet dialogue between self and world, extending into technology, belonging, and the imagination of the future.
One night before bed, I suddenly felt an urge to tear down all the posters in my room—perhaps because I was tired of the motives behind putting them up, or perhaps because I had seen through the timid desire to be represented by someone else. But as I calmed down, I also realized that the affection I once had was real. Those instinctive curiosities deserve respect, and the pure desire to explore is what truly deserves to be cherished. It has nothing to do with others’ opinions or labels—wanting to watch simply means wanting to watch. If my recommendation can become one of the reasons for watching, and if you still feel curious, then that’s wonderful.
“Hong Kong Movies Never Die ” marks its tenth anniversary — ten years witnessing the highs and lows of Hong Kong cinema. This selection features films I believe are worth recommending from the past decade. They may not be flawless, but each is the work of an emerging director. As the saying goes, “the younger generation surpasses the old,” and newcomers are no less capable than their predecessors. To keep Hong Kong cinema alive and unbroken — to truly achieve “Hong Kong Movies Never Die ” — please support these new forces of quality Hong Kong filmmaking.
Far Far Away
Suk Suk
My Prince Edward
Drifting
Beyond The Dream (Only available in Taiwan)
Limbo
The Sunny Side of the Street
KJ: Music and Life
Time Still Turns the Pages
3 Generations 3 Days
Before the Box Gets Emptied
What is the relationship between art and society? Is it possible for art to exist outside of society, as a kind of “pure land”? How does art reflect the evolution of an era—or even move ahead of its time to drive change? This has been the central question I’ve explored since I first began creating. From the great creators of East and West, to protestors striving for change, and finally to local actors taking action on the ground. “Living in this era, what dreams can we still hold on to?” In pragmatic despair, I pragmatically believe that both creation and action, like water, can flow into and fill the cracks that our times so urgently need.
Lee Chang-dong: The Art of Irony
Who’ll Stop the Rain
