Stranger at the House
Chan Yat-wah, Chau Yik-chung Ivan / Hong Kong
Col / 15′ 56″ / In Cantonese with Chinese subtitles
Recommended by Adrian Chow and Heiward Mak
La La Woodland
Cheryl Chung@Intoxic / Hong Kong
Col / 3′ / In Cantonese with Chinese and English subtitles
Recommended by Yu Ka-ho, Andrew Chen, Justin Wong
Sun
Ho Cheuk-yan / Hong Kong
Col / 3′ 55″ / No dialogue and subtitles
Recommended by Andrew Chen
Going Against the World
Wan Nga-yu / Hong Kong
Col / 13′ 04″ / In Cantonese with no subtitles
Recommended by Adam Wong
Dragon and Phoenix
Lee Ka-yin, Wong Chi-shing / Hong Kong
Col / 3′ 10″ / No dialogue with English subtitles
Recommended by Yu Ka-ho
On Sleepless Roads, the Sleepless Goes
Lam Isabella Candice / Hong Kong
Col & B/W / 20′ 07″ / In Cantonese with Chinese and English subtitles
Recommended by Rachel Zen
More Than Words
Ma Man-ching, Leung Kwok-pang, Law Tai-kit, Chan Pak-long, Chan Hay-yi, Ho Ka-wai, Chung Ka-wai, Tsang Ching-yee、Leung Chi-yue, Tam Shek-hin / Hong Kong
Col / 9′ 21″ / No dialogue and subtitles
Recommended by Adrian Chow
Battle
Wen Muye / China
Col / 11′ 16″ / In Mandarin with Chinese and English subtitles
90 Days
Timothy Yeung, Lau Chor-chun / Hong Kong
Col / 18′ 35″ / In Cantonese and Mandarin with English subtitles
Recommended by Rachel Zen
The Cassette Player
Mojtaba Mousavi / Iran
Col / 4′ 53″ / No dialogue and subtitles
Recommended by Chan Wai, Chan Chi-wa Ernest, Teresa Kwong
Before Friday
Cheng Tak-yan Enoch / Hong Kong
Col / 30′ / In Cantonese with English subtitles
Recommended by Rachel Zen
Submerse to Read My Mind
Chou On-tung / Hong Kong
B&W / 8′ 50″ / No dialogue with Chinese and English subtitles
Recommended by Yu Ka-ho
Good Night
Wong Chi-ling, Tsoi Wai-chung / Hong Kong
Col / 8′ 44″ / No dialogue with English subtitles
Recommended by Andrew Chen
Lady with flower hair
Tabibzadeh Sarah / Iran
Col / 11′ / No dialogue and subtitles
Recommended by Chan Wai, Chan Chi-wa Ernest, Teresa Kwong
Glimmer
Omid Abdollahi / Iran
Col / 18′ 30″ / In Farsi with English subtitles
Recommended by Chan Wai, Chan Chi-wa Ernest, Teresa Kwong
Veteran scriptwriter and critic Lam Kee-to curates a programme of eight shorts from the many award-winning films since the inception of ifva. Throughout the years, many of the past ifva winners have made their names in Hong Kong’s cultural, or even entertainment scene.
Kee-to says, ‘You Are the Independent Power of My Eye consists of eight films by those who are now professional filmmakers. It is a collection of works that their talents first shone. They created their first piece purely from their heart without much calculation – only with precious independent spirits, which when joined together, could create power.’
Long Distance
Chui Wan-shun Vincent, Lai Tze-kim Alex
Col / 1995 / 19’ / In Cantonese with English subtitles
1st ifva Awards - Drama Category Gold Award
A woman keeps telling people about how she felt when she made a long distance call to her boyfriend thirteen years ago.
A man, waken by a mysterious midnight call, tries to recall certain things that happened thirteen years ago.
Snapshots
Mak Yuen-yan
Col / 1998 / 27’ / In Cantonese with English subtitles
4th ifva Awards - Drama Category Distinguished Award
Snapshots mean pictures taken spontaneously using Polaroid or non-professional cameras.
Yan meets Ming when he is at his lowest and doesn’t know what to do with his life. Yan herself, who emigrated to Germany from Hong Kong with her family, has run away from home on finding out that she has a terminal disease. In this way she and Ming come together. Two lonely and helpless people joined by fate, offering each other comfort and support. And in the end they are left with snapshots in their hands to remind them of a beautiful time together. Only you yourself can fulfill your own dreams and hopes, it cannot be done for you by someone else. The story of Ming and Yan is only a beginning. Later they must seek a new lifestyle and that is the most important thing.
Stanley, Wendy, May, Nelson and Ulli, I love you all!
Wrong Dial
Cheuk Wan-chi
Col / 2011 / 4’30” / In Cantonese with Chinese and English subtitles
17th ifva Awards - Open Category Silver Award
He is a Primary Four young kid.
She is an adult woman.
A series of wrong dialing brought the two together in a most fitting way.
Foul Ball
Yuen Kin-to Toe
Col / 1996 / 2’ / No dialogue and subtitles
2nd ifva Awards – Special Prize (Video), Animation Category Silver Award
To this Boy, SOCCER IS LIFE. He lives on soccer balls, sewing them one by one, stitch by stitch with his little hands, in a dark factory a little better than Hell. Despite of the job, he still love playing soccer game. But he never gets much time to because the Fat Boss always pulls him back to the slavery in a very ‘special’ way…
Simultaneously, one of those hand-made balls appears on the infamous TV advertisement: Million-dollar-contracted Soccer Superstars vs. Devilish Aliens. The game which decides human’s fate. It’s a game without red card. Aliens’ crashing defensive skills leave the soccer world idols laying in agony…
But life is not a spectator sport. What kind of dream can be better than stepping inside the arena and teaming up with your favorite athletes?
Sometimes violence is the solution, no matter who is guarding the Goal, the Fat Boss or the Alien King with its 10 feet wingspan…
Sleepy Guy
Raman Hui
Col / 1996 / 4’48” / No dialogue and subtitles
2nd ifva Awards - Animation Category Distinguished Award
Sleepy guy was so happy to meet the girl of his dream. He tried his best to make the evening memorable and magical. But it wasn’t easy for him…… He finally overcame all obstacles and spent eight hours straight with the girl.
I'm Starving
Yau Ching
Col / 1999 / 13’ / In English with Chinese subtitles
5th ifva Awards - Open Category Silver Award
I’m Starving is an erotic love tale between a ghost and a woman who share a small apartment in Chinatown. The ghost who eats paper money and Chinese takeout menus contrasts starkly with the woman who thrives on instant ramen noodles; both, haunted by their landlord, decide eventually to invent a future together.
Lovers' lover
Mak Hei-yan Heiward
Col / 2006 / 30’ / In Cantonese with Chinese and English subtitles
12th ifva Awards - Open Category Gold Award
It is over between “her” and “him”, and she soon starts over with another “him”. It turns out “he” has another “her”…… It starts, it ends, it starts all over again…… It is not just you and me in a relationship, there is another s/he involved……. So anyone can be the third party.
Summer Exercise
Pang Ho-cheung Edmond
Col / 1999 / 11’ / In Cantonese with Chinese and English subtitles
5th ifva Awards - Open Category Distinguished Award
On the last day of his summer vacation, 11-year-old Ah Wah finds himself in deep water: he hasn’t finished his summer exercise. He is scared that Mr. Wong, his teacher, will report this to his parents. His mother will then find him a shame; his sister will insult him and his father will give him a beating, all of which are worse than death. After much thoughts, he finally finds a way out by getting to the root of all these: silence Mr. Wong, and before school starts!
Tan Chui Mui is among the Malaysian “New Wave” directors. A Malaysian Chinese, her first feature Love Conquers All has already won two awards a Pusan. She has made quite a few short films, equally acclaimed, and seven are now showcased at ifva.
Tan Chui-mui’s first short A Tree in Tanjung Malim is a fictional autobiographical work of a 17-year-old girl escaping from the rural to Kuala Lumpur. South of South focuses on Vietnamese refugees who have escaped to Malaysia. The desired dreamland of Peru (Everyday Everyday) or the undesired futuristic, authoritarian world (One Future) forms another discourse about displacement. Tan herself indeed displaces herself and moved to China a few years ago. There she follows the story of investigative journalist Wang Keqin in a documentary project initiated by Jia Zhangke (Wang Keqin, on the Road). Two other films from Tan have been picked, one about a woman reflecting on fate (The Need for Rites) and another without a single woman but only more telling of them (Company of Mushrooms).
A Tree in Tanjung Malim
Tan Chui Mui / 2004 / Malaysia / Col / 24′ 51″ / In Mandarin with Chinese and English subtitles
The Need For Rituals
Tan Chui Mui / 2008 / Malaysia / Col / 12′ 19” / In Mandarin with no subtitles
One Future
Tan Chui Mui / 2009 / Malaysia / B/W / 4′ 43″ / In English with Chinese subtitles
An edgy and powerful science fiction story of a society where everything is perfect, except no one is allowed to speak.
Company of Mushrooms
Tan Chui Mui / 2006 / Malaysia / Col / 32′ 06″ / In Mandarin with Chinese and English subtitles
Wang Ke Qin, on the road
Tan Chui Mui / 2011 / China / B/W / 6′ 59″ / In Mandarin with Chinese and English subtitles
South of South
Tan Chui Mui / 2006 / Malaysia / Col / 10′ 25″ / In Hokkien with Chinese and English subtitles
Everyday Everyday
Tan Chui Mui / 2009 / Malaysia / Col / 18′ 02″ / In Mandarin with English subtitles
Fireworks
Shunji Iwai / 1993 / Japan / Col / 45′ 00” / In Japanese with English subtitles
Two intertwined tales explore how one tiny incident can change everything.
Sixth-graders Norimichi, Yusuke and Junichi can’t quite figure out how fireworks look when seen from the side. Does it look round? Or does it look flat? Experimenting for themselves seems like a perfect way to find out, so on the night of the Summer Fireworks, the threesome decide to embark on a little adventure.
Ah Wai & Murphy
Adam Wong Sau-ping / 2000 / Hong Kong / B/W / 3′ 52” / No dialogue and subtitles
The 5th ifva Awards – Open Category Distinguished Award
Spin and spin, best friends are you and me.
Glowing
Wong Sau-ping Adam / 2001 / Hong Kong / Col & B/W / 62′ 00” / In Cantonese with English subtitles
The 6th ifva Awards – Open Category Gold Award and Best Script
The word “director” is becoming more prestigious and romanticised. Knowing that someone has made some sort of movies, we would like to greet him/her as “Director” or ask “When can I star in your movie?” It is pretty fun indeed. However, if taking it seriously, why do I make movies?
The Secret Taste
Adam Wong Sau-ping / 2012 / Hong Kong / Col / 12′ 32″ / In Cantonese with Chinese and English subtitles
ifva greenlab 2011-2012: Employee Retraining Board 20th Anniversary Commissioning Project
In May 2011, Ming Chow, at 27 years old, having studied the barista certificate course for only two months, defeated many experienced baristas at the Grand Barista Championship, Hong Kong region. What made Chow’s coffee hit the cord of the jury who were international coffee experts?
How should we tell a story in a film? Narrative can be linear, cyclical, spiral, fragmented… you name it. Adam Wong who directed The Way We Dance will conduct the workshop with a small group of participants, scrutinize their works, and give them tips about how to play around with storytelling!
Application method and eligibility:
1) Participants should have basic knowledge in film production and operating editing equipment.
2) Each participants needs to submit a piece of work at application for selection purposes and for discussion at the workshop if selected.
- Format of works submitted: Full script (preferably with footages), footages of film or short in production, or completed work which is subject to re-editing.
- Genre of works submitted: drama, documentary, or experimental film with a narrative.
- Length of works submitted: 5-15 minutes, and please select an excerpt if exceeding this duration.
3) Please download application form here.
4) Please apply on or before 24 February. Workshop has a quota of 12-15. Successful applicants will be notified in early March.
One of the most promising young Taiwanese director, Arvin Chen is perhaps best known for his recent feature Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow, a rom-com featuring with a taste of magical realism, and his debut feature, Au Revoir Taipei. He indeed has produced some great shorts, most notably Mei (2006) which won the Silver Bear for the best short film at Berlinale, and Lane 256 (2011) in 10+10 which was a project initiated by the Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival. Chen will share with ifva audience stories behind his creations, and clips from these short films will be screened.
Hosted By:
Maggie Lee
Senior Asia Film Critic, US entertainment industry publication Variety
Mei
Taiwan / 2006 / Col / 11′ 00″
Mei’s father runs a noodle stall at one of the night markets in Taipei. Mei always dreams to emigrate to the States, and her only worry is her widowed father. A boy who works at the stall, hopelessly in love with her, promises to take her place and take care of her father. How would Mei choose between love and dream? Arvin Chen’s graduation project at film school triumphed at the Berlinale and he took home the Silver Bear for the best short film in 2007.
LANE 256
Taiwan / 2011 / Col / 5′ 00”
A young couple, soon to be married, moves into their new apartment in a narrow lane. Workers cannot move their washing machine up to the top floor through the narrow staircase, so they can only use a crane to lift it from the ground. But the workers are so clumsy that the washing machine just hangs in the air, as if it can fall any time. That hanging machine reminds the couple of their own unsettling relationship… Lane 256 is part of 10+10, a project comprising 20 short films commissioned by the Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival.
The Director
Arvin Chen
Arvin Chen, one of the promising young directors working in Taiwan and Greater China, he apprenticed under renowned Taiwanese director Edward Yang (Yiyi) before studying at the USC School of Cinematic Arts. His thesis film Mei won the 2007 Silver Bear in the Berlin International Film Festival’s Short Film Competition. Chen then went on to shoot his first feature length film, Au Revoir Taipei, which won the NETPAC Award for Best Asian Film at the 2010 Berlin International Film Festival. In 2011, Chen joined 10 + 10, the omnibus film project initiated by the Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival Executive Committee, and directed the segment Lane 256. His latest film Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow is premiered at the 2013 Berlin International Film Festival.
Wong Tsz Ching In Search For Wong Tsz Ching
Wong Tsz Ching
Col / 2007 / 20’ / In Cantonese with Chinese and English subtitles
The 13th ifva Awards - Open Category Silver Award
Someone is bored enough to Google search his/her own name and document the process into a video clip…
Angels' Trumpets
Lai Pak Hei, Yeung Mei Fung, Kwan Yik Chung
Col / 2005 / 20’50” / In Cantonese with English subtitles
The 11th ifva Awards - Youth Category Silver Award
This night, several people are getting ready for a short-film shooting. This night, these people are killed one by one. This night, she kills these people! This night, she is terrified to witness the murders. This night, she remembers the past! That night, she finds out that the murderer is … HERSELF!
The Colour is Green
Au Wah Hei, Lee Wing Cheung
Col / 1997 / 15’ / In Cantonese with no subtitles
The 3rd ifva Awards - Youth Category Gold Award
It all started with a chance encounter at the beach. People and things keep shifting, changing in time, the only constant is the necklace…Also, the green world of youth, wonder and hope!
Homecoming
Kwok Zune
Col / 2009 / 29’35” / In Cantonese and English with Chinese and English subtitles
The 15th ifva Awards - Open Category Gold Award
A mother left her family because she loved them, but there was a big price to pay.
More than 20 years ago, a Filipino girl named Charlie left her son and came to Hong Kong to work as a house maid. Separated from her family all these years, she thought she could finally go home to her son when she retired, but…
有人[:nv:s:b/e peop/e]
Hung Wing Kit
Col / 2000 / 33’ / No dialogue with English subtitles
The 6th ifva Awards - Open Category Distinguished Award
Moon is an experimental item in a laboratory. The experiment made her transparent beyond her control. [:nv:s:b/e peop/e} is about the journey of Moon in search of her own existence. The video explores the term “invisibility” in human relationships, through cyber identity and actual human communication.
Red Faces
Kam Man Fai
Col / 1997 / 22’ / In Cantonese with English subtitles
The 3rd ifva Awards – Others Category Distinguished Award
“Guangong beheads Diaochan under the pale moonlight” – an episode from traditional Chinese opera. The death of she-Diaochan enables he-Guangong to establish his manhood (or to be a hero?), what follows is the journey in search of his own sex. Without Diaochan and his typical “red”, what else is left for Guangong to equip himself as a man? His fluttering beard or his squalid genitals?
Ah Ming
Hui Nga Shu Rita
Col / 1996 / 15’ / In Cantonese with English subtitles
The 2nd ifva Awards - Drama Category Distinguished Award
A normal day, a normal family in Hong Kong, a normal school girl and a normal accident at home.
Mother
Chan Tai Lee
B/W / 2004 / 18’30” / In Cantonese with no subtitles
The 10th ifva Awards - Open Category Gold Award
One day, a glance of my mother's life, recorded as picture and sound.
Hong Kong Guy
Lo Hoi Ying
Col / 1998 / 56’ / In Cantonese with English subtitles
The 4th ifva Awards - Youth Category Gold Award
You are guaranteed to enjoy this film. Highly visual, this rather wonderful film by a very young man will keep you smiling. The director admits to having been influenced by such popular idols as Bruce Lee, Samuel Hui and Stephen Chow. The story is about how a bored youth indulges himself in imitating the idols and fictitious videotaping.
"Art @ Lunch" is a programme emphasizing community engagement, cultural exchange and diversity. Come to the Hong Kong Arts Centre, which is just a step away from the busy Wan Chai commercial offices, and enjoy the award winning titles from last year's ifva during lunch time!
6th March
Three protesters and three police officers, spending the whole night around a dining table.
Gold Award, 18th ifva Awards (Open Category), Hong Kong
Wong Chun / 2011 / Col / 30' 00"
In Cantonese with Chinese and English subtitles
Under the Lion Crotch
Fulfill the wishes of the spirit under the lion’s crotch.
Gold Award, 18th ifva Awards (Animation Category), Hong Kong
Wong Ping / 2011 / Col / 4' 39"
In Cantonese with English subtitles
Molding
In everyday life we all imitate one another. Slowly you and I become the same; we are taken from the same mold.
Silver Award, 18th ifva Awards (Youth Category), Hong Kong
Ng Chak-hang / 2012 / Col / 04' 08"
No dialogue with no subtitles
All About Us provides a series of short film production activities for ethnic minority youths in Hong Kong, conducted by professional filmmakers. Now in its fourth year, the scheme witnessed the birth of many increasingly mature works.
Once upon a time in SSP
Hamza Ali、Umair Ali、Sami Usama Javed、Jahanzeb Haider、Usama Haider、Hamza Haider、Muhammad Anus、Ali Shamaz
2013 / Col / 20’ 39” / In Cantonese with English subtitles
Troubled Love
Ghale Milan Jung、Amansingh Baroli A.、Vikrant Singh、Justin Charles Medina、Suleman Shah、Rehman Shah、Gurung Anjila、Siddarth Gurung
2013 / Col / 5’ 08” / In English with English subtitles
Don’t Just Dream, Do
Gurung George、Kandal Satish、Bishwokarma Bipin、Gurung Subin
2013 / Col / 12’ 38” / In English with Chinese and English subtitles
Triphobia
Anis Ur Rehman、Adeel Maroof、Shahid Ossama、Mubashar Hussain、Muhammad Atif、Shahul Hameed Nuaim、Afrasyaab Khan、Shoaib Hassan、Aveneina Anggi
2013 / Col / 8’ 39” / In English with English subtitles
Jellyfishman
Leung King Lam M. Grace、Khiatani Samuel Vinod、Barua Olique Kumar、Kubota Masaharu、Ngan Ying Kit、Le Van Thang、Harjot Singh、Harvin Singh
2013 / Col / 9’ 07” / In English with English subtitles
Football Passion
Harjit Kaur、Jaskamalpreet Kaur Jassy、Simarjit Kaur、Liaqat Riddah Gul、Lovepreet Kaur、Sharanjit Kaur
Coffee, Cigarettes and Chinese Massage
Kwok Hon-fan Jeff / 2012 / Hong Kong / Col / 7' 21" / In French with Chinese and English subtitles
Officially Selected, Tokyo Video Festival 2013, Japan
Over coffee and cigarettes in a European style coffee shop in China, a French and a Belgium visitors talk about some funny things they were exposed to during their stay in China.
Not Now But When
Yuen Chi-him / 2011 / Hong Kong / Col / 22' 39" / In Cantonese with Chinese and English subtitles
2012, the hottest issue should be world's end. The rest of time is not enough for any development of the society and citizen. But we can't just wait world's end happen, we need to survive in this harsh world. The society changes, it might be much unpredictable than that about the world's end happens. In a world where the future appears bleak and hopeless, should we prepare for a painless end, or it possible for us to stand up and make a change?
SICK
Chu Hoi-ying Nicole / 2012 / Hong Kong / Col / 9' 46" / In Cantonese with Chinese and English subtitles
Officially Selected, 9th IAWRT Asian Women's Film Festival, New Delhi, India
Chi is sick. She notices her mother's strange behavior one night. Worried, she calls her brother about it, but he is not interested. Who is sick actually?
Flowers with Aphasia
Li Sum-yuet / 2012 / Col / 30' 00'' / In Cantonese with Chinese and English subtitles
Officially Selected, 15th Udine Far East Film Festival, Italy
Seated in the front row of a funeral hall are a boy and a teenager, the picture of the deceased yet to be placed. A florist, Tung, is consumed by grief but puts on a front for others. The boy drops by at the florist and orders a custom floral arrangement -- a teddy bear-shaped wreath with his favorite yellow flowers -- to be readied in three days' time and paid with money saved up in his piggy bank. Tung forges an unlikely friendship with his young customer, an encounter that releases bottled-up emotions so that healing process can begin.
Downstream (produced by RTHK)
Kwok Zune / 2012 / Hong Kong / Col / 24' 00'' / In Cantonese with Chinese and English subtitles
Best Selection Award (International Short Film Competition) Kaohsiung Film Festival 2013, Taiwan
HK born Indian Peter encounters a small accident at work. In order to repay the debt, he got himself involved in a seemingly endless string of troubles.
Shit Happening
Lee Kai-ho / 2012 / Hong Kong / Col and B/W / 2' 11" / No dialogue and subtitles
Officially Selected, 3rd Ars Independent International Film Festival, Katowice, Poland
Any form of relationship between the two sexes were happening within such a narrow space like Hong Kong. Flat lens created strong pressure which gives fantasy to the film by its vagueness. So similar to our experience. Were we also one of the actors?
Lopsided
Yeung Tsz-ngo Poppy / 2012 / Hong Kong / Col / 29' 05" / In Cantonese with Chinese and English subtitles
Officially Selected, 27th BFI London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival, United Kingdom
Officially Selected, Asian Queer Film Festival 2013, Japan
A new kind of medical cure has been invented. Within 24 hours of consumption, homosexual users will be "treated" and return to the state of heterosexuals. Lotus is a lesbian, but a series of events follow as soon as her conservative mother finds out about Lotus' sexual orientation.
Is it a sickness when She falls in love with Her?
Such a Girl like Me
Man Uen-ching/ 2012 / Hong Kong / Col / 16' 00'' / In Cantonese with Chinese and English subtitles
Officially Selected, 15th Udine Far East Film Festival, Italy
'…is unsuitable for any man's love.' (Xi Xi, A Woman Like Me)
Sum-yin patches up wounds, masks scars and performs other beautician services that, when done well – as she always does – bring comfort to her and appreciation from grateful families. But inside she's hurting. Her job as a mortuary cosmetologist makes her self-conscious about the smell of death that seems to be seeping through and under her skin and looming over her stagnant relationship with Kwan, her oblivious boyfriend. No amount of cigarettes and perfume and cleaning will rid of it. At some point, a decision has to be made.
