The Asian Film Awards Academy, in collaboration with Bali International Film Festival (Balinale), with the financial support of Create Hong Kong and Film Development Fund, we are honoured to present our flagship film roadshow – Asian Cinerama in Jakarta for the first time. We bring together six Hong Kong films in a variety of genres to showcase the rich and vibrant creativity of contemporary movies produced out of Hong Kong.
The program — Asian Cinerama — Hong Kong Focus — will run from Thursday 15 Sept to Sunday 18 September at Plaza Indonesia XXI, Jakarta, it will open with Glenn Chan's directional debut SHADOWS, a breath-taking psychological thriller features an outstanding ensemble of actors. The film discourses the evil that is subconsciously embedded in our minds the terrifying consequences that ensue when the evil is unleashed. The film has been hailed as ‘one of the best films of the year'. The film's producer and scriptwriter, Mani Man, will be present to meet the audience and hold a post-screening Q&A.
“It is a great honor,” said director, Glenn Chan, “to have SHADOWS chosen by Bali International Film Festival as the opening film for the Asian Film Awards Academy's Asian Cinerama, Jakarta. It was both exciting and overwhelming to helm a Hong Kong film as my directorial debut. Exciting because much of my childhood was dedicated to watching old classic Hong Kong movies. Now, I get to make one”.
“We are pleased to have Mani Man, producer and scriptwriter to open the Asian Cinerama program with her film SHADOWS, and conduct a filmmaker's seminar on topics ranging from film funding, co-production and initiatives to nurture local talent,” says Balinale Founder and Executive Director, Deborah Gabinetti.
Ms Man is also Deputy General Manager of MM2 Entertainment Hong Kong, a leading media entertainment and content company with regional offices in Kuala Lumpur, Taipei, Singapore, Shanghai, Beijing, and the United States.
“It is very exciting to travel to Jakarta with my latest film SHADOWS,” said Mani Man. “I am so looking forward to meeting the audience in Indonesia and taking this chance to meet local filmmakers. Hope everyone enjoys our film and thank you Bali International Film Festival for bringing me here.”
On top of that, the program includes mega-hit comedy Chilli Laugh Story, topped the Hong Kong box office when it was released in July; screenwriter-turned-director Sunny Chan's impressive directorial follow-up Table for Six after Men on the Dragon in 2018; highest-grossing Hong Kong film in 2021, Anita, the biopic of the late Canto-pop queen Anita Mui; Macau-based director Emily Chan's Madalena, frames an achingly humanistic love story between two wounded souls.
The roadshow will close with Raging Fire, the final feature directed by the late veteran Benny Chan, won the best film and best director at the 40th Hong Kong Film Awards with excellent performances by action superstar Donnie Yen and co-star Nicholas Tse as the cold-blooded villain. All films are shown in original Cantonese/Mandarin with Indonesian and English subtitles.
Over a thousand film enthusiasts and industry professionals are expected to attend the 4-day program specially curated to entertain a wide variety of audiences with a combination of thriller, action, drama, and family comedy. Asian Cinerama is the first collaborative event on the Road to Balinale 2023.
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the Balinale for hosting the Asian Cinerama with us and our financial supporters for making it possible. We will continue to work with Asian filmmakers to promote and recognize outstanding Asian works, as well as to develop interest in Asian cinema among the industry and audiences in Asia and beyond.
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