Fruit Chan is Hong Kong International Film Festival's Filmmaker-in-Focus this year
5 Feb – The 48th Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF48) will celebrate Fruit Chan as this year's Filmmaker-in-Focus.
Chan, a pioneer of Hong Kong's independent cinema, has established his authorship of films by exploring the ever-changing cosmopolitan territory and delving into its identity crises and political challenges. His celebrated film "Made in Hong Kong" stands out in this regard.
HKIFF48 will take place from 28 March to 8 April, featuring a showcase of Chan's ten most influential works, the publication of a commemorative book, and a limited edition notebook in collaboration with long-term festival partner Moleskine. The maverick filmmaker will also participate in a Face-to-Face session to share his insights and vision with the public.
Coinciding with the Filmmaker-in-Focus announcement, HKIFFS unveiled a second key visual for HKIFF48, showcasing Tai O, the remote fishing village that served as the backdrop to Chan's "Three Husbands", the winner of the prestigious Hong Kong Film Critics Society Best Film award in 2018.
Hong Kong International Film Festival Society (HKIFFS) Executive Director Albert Lee paid tribute to Chan, saying, "The festival takes great pride in acknowledging Chan's indelible contribution to the local cinema. By effectively capturing the essence of Hong Kong society, his stories of social outcasts struggling for survival serve as a metaphor for a perplexed city experiencing political transformations over time. With their gritty and raw style and insightful portrayal of working-class life, his films undoubtedly bear the mark of being 'made in Hong Kong'."
HKIFFS will reveal this year's complete programme in early March, including details on Chan's Face-to-Face session.
Fruit Chan's Filmmaker-in-Focus series will feature the following ten films:
1997 "Made in Hong Kong"
1998 "The Longest Summer"
1999 "Little Cheung"
2000 "Durian Durian"
2001 "Hollywood Hong Kong"
2002 "Public Toilet"
2004 Dumplings"
2014 "The Midnight After"
2015 "My City"
2018 "Three Husbands"
