“Dog Day Evening” (2026) Review: Absurdity of Ordinary Desperation

Dog Day Evening (2026) was released nationwide immediately after its premiere at the Shanghai International Film Festival’s Asian New Talent section. It is director Mak Tin Shu’s directorial debut. Although a “new talent” as a director, Mak was not really new or fresh to the Hong Kong film industry. His scripts for Trivisa (2016) and…

ONE TO WATCH: Olympia Vitalis Releases a New Single, “Baby Blues”

Olympia Vitalis is making a name for herself as one of the UK’s most exciting soul singers. Raised in West London and having spent years singing in gospel choirs, she draws on a rich range of influences, from Aretha Franklin and Amy Winehouse to Nas and Kendrick Lamar. Since the release of her debut EP…

“Ah Girl”: A Heartwarming Look at Family and Loneliness – Review

Inspired by director Ang Geck Geck Priscilla’s own childhood experiences and long-held reflections, the Singaporean filmmaker’s debut feature Ah Girl follows the resilient Swee Swee (Ah Girl) as she journeys through a childhood scarred by hardship and bruises. Set in the 1990s, the 7-year-old Ah Girl (Xuanjing ONG), and her younger sister Ah Tian (Sydney…

Chen Sicheng’s “Being Towards Death”: Finding Life in Its Final Chapter

Chen Sicheng, a Chinese film director, producer, and screenwriter, is behind some of China’s biggest commercial successes, from the hugely popular Detective Chinatown films to thrillers such as Lost in the Stars and Sheep Without a Shepherd. His films often focus on crime, mystery and moral choices, that is why Being Towards Death comes as…

“Comrades: Almost a Love Story” (1996) Review

To celebrate its 25th anniversary, the Hong Kong Film Archive has launched Close Encounters with Master Filmmakers: Movie Talks, a three-part series in which leading local directors share their own films alongside works that inspired them. The first edition features acclaimed director Peter Chan, best known for He’s a Woman, She’s a Man (1994), Perhaps…

“The Kid” (1999): Lost Treasure Found and Restored

Coinciding with the Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival 2026, the 25th anniversary of the Hong Kong Film Archive, and what would have been Leslie Cheung’s 70th birthday, The Kid took centre stage at the Grand Theatre of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre. Director Jacob Cheung Chi-leung and the main cast – Ti Lung, Lam Ka-tung,…