Having shared the spotlights in Rotterdam, Hong Kong, and ahead of its premiere in Shanghai, director Ang Geck Geck Priscilla’s debut feature Ah Girl, 13 years in the making, presents a bittersweet self-healing childhood of a 7-year-old curious girl Swee Swee (Xuanjing ONG) in the post-divorce turbulence of her parents. Ah Girl comes from a…
Tag: movies
“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…
Raindance Icon Award 2026 Recipients: MIRIAM MARGOLYES and LLOYD KAUFMAN + EDDIE COCHRAN RECEIVES POSTHUMOUS ICON AWARD
Actress, writer, and comedian Miriam Margolyes and American filmmaker Lloyd Kaufman have been named recipients of the 2026 Raindance Icon Awards, part of the festival’s 34th edition running from 17–26 June in London. Margolyes will receive her award at the Raindance Opening Gala on 17 June, following the UK premiere of April X (dir. Michel…
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…
JIB DREAM FANMEET 6.5 – Apo and Mile Reflect on Playing Trin and Tanwa in “Shine” – Exclusive Interview
Apo Nattawin and Mile Phakphum have become a key screen pairing in Thai entertainment over recent years. From KinnPorsche to Man Suang and now Shine, they have drawn consistent attention for their performances. Their latest project takes them into new creative ground, mixing romance, political tension, comedy, and social themes set in late-1960s Thailand. In…
Tibet Film Festival Season: In Conversation with Tibet’s Strongest Female Voices in Filmmaking Today: Kunsang Kelden and Pema Shitsetsang
The presence of female Tibetan creatives and voices in cinema is beginning to outpace that of their male counterparts. Most notably, in the film festival space, with curators seeking to present a perspective on Tibetan filmmaking that has, until the past few years, been left silent. Since the founding of the Tibet Film Festival in…
JIB DREAM FANMEET 6.5 – Daou and Offroad on Working Together, The Power of Thai BL and Acting – Exclusive Interview
Beneath its suspense and romance, The Wicked Game is a story about choosing to see the good in another person when the world gives every reason not to. Daou’s understanding of Than rests on a simple but powerful belief: that Pheem is fundamentally a good person, even when his actions suggest otherwise. Rather than judging…
“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…
“A Chinese Ghost Story” (1987): Looking Into the Dark, Choosing the Light
“Life’s journey, where beautiful dreams stretch as long. Along the path, wind and frost lash against the withering face. In this mortal world, in how many directions do dreams drift? Searching for the love amidst infatuated fantasies. The road ahead blurs as the one fades away with it.” The opening verse of the eponymous theme…
“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,…
JIB DREAM FANMEET 6.5 – Behind the Scenes with EmiBonnie: A Journey in GL Dramas – Exclusive Interview
In the last few years, Thailand’s GL dramas have grown from a niche corner of television into one of the most fascinating developments in Asian pop culture. Shows like Gap, 23.5, Blank, The Secret of Us and Us have all helped expand the genre in different ways, proving that GL dramas can tell honest stories…
“We’re Nothing at All” Review: A Fierce, Tender Cry for Society’s Most Vulnerable
On Valentine’s Day, a bus explodes in the middle of Hong Kong. The bomb is planted by a gay couple who kill themselves along with most of the passengers, leaving behind charred bodies and severed limbs. This shocking scene opens We’re Nothing at All, a brutal yet compassionate film that gives voice to some of…
Raindance Film Festival Returns to London with Bold Line-Up of Indie Voices and Global Stories
The Raindance Film Festival returns to London from 17–26 June for its 34th edition, presenting one of its most wide-ranging programmes to date. This year’s programme includes 85 narrative and documentary features alongside 112 short films, with more than half of the feature selection coming from first-time directors. The festival also expands its immersive strand,…
79th Cannes Film Festival: “We Are Aliens” Review
Japanese animation is in a class of its own, with a style that is hard to match. While many countries produce visually impressive animated films, very few reach the same level of thoughtful storytelling that Japanese animation delivers. Its real strength is not just the beauty of the artwork or the technical skill behind it,…
VIEW OF THE ARTS 