Hong Kong 2004

Hong Kong Panorama, seen from Kowloon. Left: The Jury - Sudhir Nandgaonkar, Lawrence Pun, Christ Fujiwara. Right: Teresa Cavina (Locarno), Jacob Wong (Hong Kong).

In the last years, the Hong Kong International Film Festival has undergone quite some changes. At the times of British rule, it had been organized by the Urban Council (then the government). After the handover to China, it became a part of the Hong Kong Arts Development Council, thus winning a piece of independence. The next step will be to outsource the festival by founding its own political and organizational body. Astonishingly, the Beijing government which has always been quick and insistent to control the Chinese entries, seems to take less and less influence. This year, the festival could present a highly interesting series of independent Asian movies, among them quite some from mainland China. In spite of the changing political and organizational background, the festival develops continously its skills as one of the important events in Asia — thanks to its lovely and effective programmers Li Cheuk-to, Jacob Wong and Freddy Wong. (k.e.)

Details of the Prize

"South of the Clouds". The Yunnan province, located at the periphery of Southwestern China, celebrated for its ethnic diversity, is the location of Zhu Wen's second feature. Lawrence Pun reviews the winner of the FIPRESCI Prize.
Shimizu Hiroshi. Chris Fujiwara discovers the Japanese director. "That a director so brilliant, original, and prolific could have remained unknown to me until now (except as a name in books) renewed my appreciation of the vastness of what, in the cinema of the past, can yet be experienced for the first time."
Asian Cinema. Sudhir Nandgaonkar on new trends in recent Asian cinema.

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