Hong Kong’s Once-Thriving Film Industry Faces a Rocky Reboot Amidst Closer Ties With China

For years now, Regina King has proven that she is one of the best actresses working today.

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Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefThe Hong Kong government has begun the process of creating a new law to tackle the unauthorized release of personal data, or doxxing.“The current Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance… was not intended to address the doxxing acts committed in recent years,” officials said on Tuesday as a proposal was introduced in Hong Kong’s Legislative Council. The proposal could be formalized into a bill that is voted on and become law by the end of the year.

Vivienne Chow The Hong Kong government has acquired the broadcast rights to July’s Tokyo Olympics in order to allow citizens to watch the games for free and cheer for athletes from Hong Kong and mainland China, the city’s leader announced on Tuesday.The games will now be shown free of charge on free-to-air channels Television Broadcasts, ViuTV and Hong Kong Open TV and pay-TV stations Now TV and Cable TV.

Avengers star is one of many industry figures to condemn the awards body, which has faced criticism for a lack of diversity, discriminatory practices and a lack of transparency surrounding its voting processes. Last week, the HFPA confirmed a list of proposed reforms in an effort to address the criticism, though open letters published last Friday (7 May) by the Time’s Up organisation and a coalition of more than 100 PR firms suggest that the changes did not go far enough.

Despite directing with one of the most distinct voices in action-movie history, John Woo’s evolution is among the most amazing elements of a career-best known for blazing barrels, shadow selves, and “heroic bloodshed.” To celebrate the Hong Kong legend’s 75th birthday, Be Reel looks back at a career that took off so dynamically in 1986 with “A Better Tomorrow” that it altered Hong Kong fashion and movie-going practices.

Vivienne Chow The extension of an popular immersive exhibition that retraces the memories of one of Hong Kong’s most iconic cinema buildings, and the past glory of the local film and entertainment industries, has set high expectations for one of the city’s largest privately-run heritage conservation projects.A new life will be given to dilapidated cinema, the State Theatre building, a Grade I historic site at North Point on Hong Kong Island.

here.To claim a pair of free tickets, film fans need to present a National Lottery ticket, scratchcard or Instant Win game to be eligible.“National Lottery Cinema Weekend is a big ‘thank you’ to our players and a celebration of what they have made possible via BFI who invest over £50 million of National Lottery funding a year to develop and support original U.K.

Vivienne Chow Hong Kong auteur Fruit Chan’s upcoming satirical horror anthology film “Coffin Homes” is set to be released in local theaters in August, distributor Edko Films announced on Wednesday.“Coffin Homes” revolves around Hong Kong’s housing problems caused by the lack of space and sky high property prices. “Hong Kong’s property prices are so expensive that they are out of reach to most people.

Vivienne Chow Inside a makeshift cafe set at Hong Kong’s luxurious Rosewood Hotel, local actor-producer Josie Ho sits across from British actor Julian Sands. Both are giving director Mike Figgis their full attention as he explains the scene that they are going to film.What was said could not be heard from afar, despite the set being unusually quiet.

Rebecca Davis editor“Better Days” is Hong Kong’s first Oscar submission to be nominated for best international feature film since 1993, but its nod has only inflamed political tensions at home.

Peter Debruge Chief Film CriticIt was the gore as much as the gameplay that made the original “Mortal Kombat” such a success at the arcade, and while the 1995 New Line movie broke the curse on video game adaptations — following such bombs as “Street Fighter” and “Super Mario Bros.” earlier that decade — the film version did so by turning the koncept into a slick but kitschy action spectacular.

Rebecca Davis editorReporters Without Borders (RSF) ranked China fourth to last out of 180 countries on its 2021 World Press Freedom Index on Tuesday, while warning that Hong Kong journalism is also now under “grave threat.”China ranked 177th in 2019, 2020 and 2021, down from a period at 176th from 2015 to 2018.

Switzerland’s Locarno Film Festival is launching a new industry event focusing on Africa. The Southern Africa-Locarno Industry Academy, hosted in collaboration with the Realness Institute of Africa, will take place online from 26 September to 2 October 2021 and will welcome 10-12 participants from all over the African continent.

Christopher Vourlias Dogwoof has acquired world sales rights to “Faceless,” the directorial debut of Jennifer Ngo, ahead of its world premiere at the Hot Docs film festival, Variety has learned exclusively.“Faceless” is a behind-the-headlines story of the 2019 Hong Kong demonstrations, seen through the eyes of four young protestors seeking to protect their way of life. Directed by Ngo and produced by Lorraine Ma, it’s a Dissonant Productions film in association with XTR and Flat-Out Films.

Rebecca Davis editorA Hong Kong court sentenced the pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai to 14 months in prison Friday, after finding him guilty of “unauthorized assembly” during pro-democracy protests in 2019.A new, additional charge was also lobbed at him Friday: two counts of “colluding with foreign forces,” which carries a maximum penalty of life in prison.Nine other of the city’s top pro-democracy campaigners were also sentenced alongside Lai Friday to up to 18 months in prison for their

Rebecca Davis editorUniversal Pictures officially announced Friday that “F9,” the latest entry in the “Fast & Furious” saga, will hit China on May 21, more than a month ahead of its June 25 debut in North America.It had passed Chinese censorship approvals and given permission for theatrical release last week.Along with China, “F9” will also debut in several foreign territories, including Russia, Korea, the Middle East, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore and Vietnam, throughout the month of May.

Refresh for latest…: Fuel-injecting some mega muscle into the international box office landscape, Universal’s F9 is revving up for a May 21 release date in China, a full five weeks before domestic. But China won’t be the only overseas market to release early, as I hear several other key hubs are also going throughout the month of May including Korea (which is expected to kick things off on May 19), Russia, the Middle East, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore and Vietnam.