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Chinese distributor Cmc Pictures has taken the worldwide rights — excluding China — to local hitmaker Chen Sicheng’s much-anticipated next feature, Decoded. The company says it will release the film theatrically in North America, the U.K., Australia, New Zealand and other major international markets later this year following its Chinese bow, expected in the second half of the year. Cmc is offering the theatrical rights to some additional territories, such as Southeast Asia, along the sidelines of the Shanghai International Film Festival this week.

Decoded is based on author Jia Mai’s bestselling Chinese spy novel of the same name, which was translated and published in English in 2002. The film’s starry cast includes Liu Haoran, Daniel Wu, Chen Daoming and Chen Yusi, among others.

Chen Sicheng is best known for his blockbuster Detective Chinatown franchise, which has grossed over $1.2 billion at China’s box office. The director also co-wrote the screenplay for Decoded.

Mark Wahlberg has been one of the most sought-after actors in Hollywood throughout his career. His dedication is second to none, which has filmmakers vying for a chance to work with him.

The actor has worked with some of the most distinguished directors, like Martin Scorcese. Unfortunately, when the two teamed up, Wahlberg’s dedication to growing his hair out for another role became a bit of a headache for the Oscar-winning director.

When Mark Wahlberg’s hair became a problem while filming a Martin Scorsese film

Mark Wahlberg collaborated with Martin Scorsese on The Departed in 2006. The film was a remake of Andrew Lau and Alan Mak’s Infernal Affairs. The plot revolves around a criminal trained to make his way into the Boston Police Department. At the same time, a cop was assigned to infiltrate the mob boss’s gang, pretending to be a criminal.

Wahlberg grew his...

Martin Scorsese's 2006 film "The Departed," a remake of Andrew Lau's and Alan Mak's 2002 cop drama "Infernal Affairs," was about a criminal (Matt Damon) who had been raised by a mob boss (Jack Nicholson) specifically to infiltrate the Boston Pd. At the same time, a cop (Leonard DiCaprio) was assigned a deep, deep undercover mission into Nicholson's mob, having to pose as a career criminal. Both occupied their roles for years and began to doubt their identities. "The Departed" is one of Scorsese's more awarded films, which is strange as he has made several much better films since.

"The Departed" was nominated for five Academy Awards and won four, for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Editing. The only actor nominated for the film was Mark Wahlberg, playing a very aggressive and extremely Bostonian Staff Sergeant named Sean Dignam. Dignam didn't play a major role in the film's story,...

China’s Alibaba Digital Media & Entertainment Group and Hong Kong’s Media Asia Group announced a slate of new projects today at Filmart.

Among the new projects are Born Evil Seed by Time Still Turns The Pages director Nick Cheuk; crime thriller The Other One by Fung Chih Chiang (A Witness Out Of The Blue); and mystery thriller Behind The Scene, directed by David Lee Kwong Yiu and produced by Andrew Lau.

Alibaba Pictures president Li Jie and Media Asia Group CEO Yip Chai Tuck both attended the joint press conference held in Filmart’s Moonlight Theatre, which saw director Soi Cheang,...

Chinese tech and media giant Alibaba is investing $640M (Hk$5Bn) into Hong Kong’s creative industries over the next five years.

The funding will come via multiple divisions in Alibaba’s Digital Media and Entertainment Group, including Alibaba Pictures and streaming platform Youku.

The plan, called the “Hong Kong Cultural and Art Industry Revitalisation Program,” is a joint initiative of Alibaba and leading Hong Kong production companies including Edko Films, Mandarin Motion Pictures, Media Asia, Universe Entertainment, One Cool Group, Shaw Brothers and Emperor Motion Pictures.

Beijing-headquartered Alibaba Pictures also said it would make Hong Kong its second headquarters. The film outfit will also fund scholarships for 20 filmmakers studying at the Hong Kong Baptist University Academy of Film.

“Filmmakers who are rooted in the city’s culture, possess a blend of eastern aesthetics and international perspective will be the key to maintaining our distinctive competitiveness in the global motion picture market,...

As Filmart gets underway, Hong Kong’s major production companies, including Edko Films, Emperor Motion Pictures (Emp), Media Asia, One Cool Group and Universe Entertainment, will be unveiling their new titles in enormous booths at the front of the trade show floor, some of which will be as elaborate as film sets.

Many of the films they are launching are big-budget Hong Kong-China co-productions, featuring top Hong Kong stars and directors, and aimed at audiences in both China and Hong Kong. Emp has Derek Kwok’s Raging Havoc, starring Andy Lau and Nicholas Tse; Mandarin Motion Pictures has The Prosecutor, starring and directed by Donnie Yen; and Media Asia is launching four new titles headed by Behind The Scene, produced by Infernal Affairs director Andrew Lau. One Cool’s slate includes a trio of action films starring Louis Koo and produced by Soi Cheang.

But behind all the glamour, stars and action,...

Hamaguchi Ryusuke’s “Evil Does Not Exist,” was Sunday evening named as the best picture at the Asian Film Awards.

The 17th edition of the prizes was held at the Xiqu Centre, part of the West Kowloon Cultural District in Hong Kong.

While “Evil Does Not Exist” and Korean blockbuster “12.12: The Day” had dominated the nominations with six each, including those in the best film category, the prizes on Sunday were much more evenly distributed. No title collected more than two prizes.

Outside, crowds failed to be muted by the March drizzle, though VIP guests were given escorts with purple umbrellas.

Filmmaker and industry attendance was also robust. Those spotted on the red carpet and pre-event cocktails included: Lee Yong Kwan (former chair of the Busan film festival), Tom Yoda, Udine festival heads Sabrina Baracetti and Thomas Bertacche, Anthony Chen, Stanley Kwan, Rina Damayanti, Hong Kong distributor Winnie Tsang,...

Written by Man Kai Ming, nicknamed ”Cow Man”, and inked by main artist Lun Yu Kwok, ”Teddy Boy” was a very successful Hong Kong comic series about the life of the Hung Hing Society triad member Chan Ho Nam. This very impressive comic with a print run of 2335 issues, was first published back in April 1992 and lasted 28 years when its production came to a stop in April 2020. ”Young and Dangerous” was the first live-action adaptation of Man's work which became so successful that it spawned five sequels, numerous prequels and spin-offs.

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The film kicks off in Hong Kong, 1985, as members of a local triad headed by Ugly Kwan are harassing and beating up a group of five teenagers, Chan Ho Man, “Chicken” Chiu, Dai Tin Yee, and brothers Pou Pan and Chow Pan from a poor housing estate. However,...

Tokyo Drift star Sung Kang says that he is currently developing a new Initial D film based on the original manga -- an expression of his love for cars.

The Korean-American actor has teased that the movie will be a faithful adaptation of the original manga. Kang is best-known to Fast & Furious franchise fans as Han, a recurring character first introduced in The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift. In an interview with South China Morning Post, Kang confirmed that the Initial D movie is already in development, hinting that the story will take the protagonist on a hero's journey.

Related: New Futuristic Racing Anime Highspeed Étoile Releases First Promo Video

Kang also revealed in the interview that the Initial D movie is one of two projects he's currently working on, saying, "It's about cars and drifting and cool things like that. Almost a Rocky or Karate Kid. A fun,...

Hong Kong stars Aaron Kwok and Tony Leung Chiu-wai play corrupt police officers in Philip Yung’s ambitious but over-the-top crime epic

This stunning-looking but chronologically restless Hong Kong-set crime epic unfurls across 50-odd years from the mid-20th century; it revolves around two frenemy protagonists, corrupt police officers played here by Aaron Kwok and Tony Leung Chiu-wai, who were inspired by real-life Hong Kong cops/triad front men back in the day. Altogether, it’s a heady mix of potted history, period detail, violence, gangster lore, lust and lawlessness on which writer-director Philip Yung (Port of Call) really goes to town, splashing budget money like petrol all over the place and then throwing a lighted match on top just to see the pretty flames. The ambition and swagger is undeniably admirable, but the end result is a bit of a charred mess – or perhaps more flatteringly a burnt offering...

Hong Kong multihyphenate Andy Lau may just be ready to star in a Hollywood movie after long being a box office king and pop star in Asia. But only if the major studios will meet him on his terms.

“I’m ready for Hollywood, as long as Hollywood is ready for me,” Lau said during an informal conversation at the Toronto International Film Festival on Saturday after a more than four-decade career stopping short of following his contemporaries and heading to Hollywood.

In Toronto to receive a special tribute award ahead of the Sept. 15 world premiere of Ning Hao’s The Movie Emperor, Lau said he always enjoyed playing the bad guy in movies as a change of pace early in his career. “I don’t know why in the beginning, everyone saw me as the good guy,” he insisted.

Lau, who sits near the top of China’s A-list...

Tony Leung Chiu-wai has starred in three movies that have scooped the top prize Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival, and today he is receiving his very own Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement.

The 61-year-old Hong Kong actor and singer is one of Asia’s most successful and internationally recognized stars. Among his major global credits are Wong Kar-wai’s 2000 romantic drama In the Mood for Love, for which he won the Best Actor prize in Cannes. His other collaborations with Wong include Chungking Express, Happy Together and The Grandmaster.

Leung also starred in the Academy Award-nominated film Hero by Zhang Yimou, and the box office hits Hard Boiled by John Woo and Infernal Affairs by Andrew Lau and Alan Mak. The latter trilogy formed the basis for Martin Scorsese’s Oscar winning The Departed.

Talking with the press today, Leung beamed of the Lifetime Achievement Lion, “Finally I can have it for myself,...

On Tuesday, TIFF announced additional honorees who will be receiving a TIFF Tribute Award at this year’s Festival. Recipients include award-winning Brazilian filmmaker Carolina Markowicz who will be honoured with the TIFF Emerging Talent Award presented by MGM. This award is in the spirit of Torontonian Mary Pickford, the groundbreaking actor, producer, and co-founder of United Artists, whose impact continues today. Two-time Academy Award–nominated Polish cinematographer Łukasz Żal will receive the TIFF Variety Artisan Award, which recognizes a distinguished creative who has excelled at their craft and made an outstanding contribution to cinema and entertainment. Both Markowicz and Żal will be honoured on Sept. 10 at the fifth annual TIFF Tribute Awards gala fundraiser at Fairmont Royal York Hotel, presented by Bulgari.

On Sept. 15, TIFF will be honouring Andy Lau, the multi-hyphenate Hong Kong artist with a Special Tribute Award at the World Premiere Gala presentation of Ning Hao’s “The Movie Emperor,...

TIFF has begun announcing their Conversation With… (Icw) series for this year’s fest with Oscar winner Pedro Almodóvar, Hong Kong actor Andy Lau and Concrete Utopia Korean stars Lee Byung-hun and Park

Seo-jun set to sit down for chats.

“TIFF’s 2023 In Conversation With… series exemplifies our belief that film can ignite perspectives and fuel

transformation,” said Anita Lee, TIFF Chief Programming Officer. “We are delighted to welcome a powerhouse lineup of international iconoclasts from Spain, South Korea, and Hong Kong for film lovers of all genres.”

Almodóvar is already set to receive TIFF’s Jeff Skoll Award in Impact Media this year at the fest’s Tribute Awards. His short, Strange Way of Life, which played at Cannes, will also make its North American premiere at TIFF. Short follows the relationship between a sheriff (Ethan Hawke) and a rancher

(Pedro Pascal) and their shared past.

Concrete Utopia stars...

A couple months after spotlighting the world’s greatest actress, the Criterion Channel have taken a logical next step towards America’s greatest actress. May (or: next week) will bring an eleven-film celebration of Jennifer Jason Leigh, highlights including Verhoeven’s Flesh + Blood, Miami Blues, Alan Rudolph’s Mrs. Parker, her directorial debut The Anniversary Party, and Synecdoche, New York, and a special introduction from Leigh. Another actor’s showcase localizes directorial collaborations: Jimmy Stewart’s time with Anthony Mann, an eight-title series boasting the likes of Winchester ’73 and The Man from Laramie. Two more: a survey of ’80s Asian-American cinema (Chan Is Missing being the best-known) and 14 movies by Seijun Suzuki.

That would be enough for one month (or two), but No Bears and Cette maison will have their streaming premieres, while Criterion Editions offers the Infernal Affairs trilogy (plus its packed set), Days of Heaven, and the aforementioned Chan Is Missing.

Despite amassing a rather significant amount at the 1998 Hong Kong box office, reaching more than 41 million Hk$ in revenue, “The Storm Riders” was essentially a flop, since its budget was more than double that amount. This, however, did not prevent the movie from achieving cult status later on, particularly for its over-the-top action scenes and the imposing presence of Sonny Chiba.

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Based on the manhua series Fung Wan by artist Ma Wing-shing, the story begins when the evil Lord Conqueror, head of Conqueror's Clan, is given a prophecy by Mud Buddha when questioned about his delayed duel with Sword Saint. The prophecy states that if Conqueror finds two young children by the name of Wind and Cloud, he will have good fortune. Mud Buddha provides the birth charts of these two and gives him a puzzle box stating that finding Wind...

Winner of the 1999 Golden Horse Award for Best Visual Effects, Andrew Lau's “A Man Called Hero” is a genuine wuxia film, which doubles intensely though, as a drama, in a rather appealing package that also benefits the most by the impressive cast. The movie would be a huge commercial success, amassing more than 23 million Hk dollars upon its release.

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The script is loosely based on the manhua series Chinese Hero: Tales of the Blood Sword by Hong Kong artist Ma Wing-shing and begins in early Republican China. After passing a test, Hero Hua is accepted by Pride, a master swordsman, as his second apprentice. When he returns home, he is horrified to see that his parents have been murdered by foreigners for opposing the opium trade. That night, Hero breaks up the foreigners' party and kills them in revenge.

When a university professor Xia Wei (Wang Likun) is suspected of intentional homicide, public opinion spirals out of control and there is mounting pressure from all sides. As public procurator Li Rui (Huang Jingyu) and his colleague Zhang Youcheng (played by Wang Qianyuan) proceed to investigate the case, they discover the involvement of a wealthy but unscrupulous entrepreneur Chen Xin (Bao Beier) and an old case that has been buried for many years is revealed … intentional homicide, sexual assault and business-government collusion are all interrelated. Everyone is forcefully swept up in this whirlwind of fate. In court, Li Rui and Xia Wei’s defense lawyer Tong Yuchen (Bai Baihe) are locked in an intense confrontation. Why does Xia Wei choose to remain silent? What secret is her husband Hong Junshan (Feng Shaofeng) hiding? Just as it becomes difficult to distinguish between good and evil, an unpredictable crisis awaits everyone… (Source:...

The Venice Film Festival has set filmmaker Liliana Cavani and actor Tony Leung Chiu-wai to receive this year’s Golden Lions for lifetime achievement. The 80th Venice fest runs from August 30-September 9 on the Lido.

Cavani, whose credits include 1974 classic The Night Porter, starring Dirk Bogarde and Charlotte Rampling, and 1985’s The Berlin Affair, has had several films at the festival, beginning with 1965’s Philippe Pétain: Processo a Vichy, which won the Lion of San Marco for best documentary. It was followed by Francesco d’Assisi (1966), Galileo (1968), I cannibali (1970), Dove siete? Io sono qui (1993) — for which Anna Bonaiuto won the Coppa Volpi for best actress — Ripley’s Game with John Malkovich (2002) and Clarisse (2012).

As for Leung, whose credits include Wong Kar-wai’s In the Mood for Love, Zhang Yimou’s Hero, Andrew Lau and Alan Mak’s Infernal Affairs and recent Marvel title Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,...

Despite a barnstorming address celebrating the re-opening of Hong Kong and China by Bona Film Group COO Jiang De Fu, it is clear that the film industry in China is still suffering its own version of long-covid, with box office tracking at around half of 2018 levels.

“The Chinese box office was RMB60.7 billion ($8.89 billion at current rates of exchange) in 2018. And 83 films made over RMB100 million. 16 films that made over RMB1 billion. Post-pandemic, in 2022, China’s box office was RMB29.9 billion. [Just] 41 films made over RMB100 million. [And] 8 films made over RMB1 billion. We are now only at 50% of the level in 2018,” said Jiang aty a presentation on the first day of Hong Kong’s FilMart.

According to Jiang, the RMB100 million ($14.5 million) figure is a significant one, because it represents a breakeven level for moderately budgeted Chinese films in the RMB30 million range.

“China produces around 1,000 films a year. Those that...

The Berlin Film Festival is once again finding house room for Hong Kong’s most commercially successful enfant terrible, Soi Cheang, aka Cheang Pou Soi, who previously brought film noir “Limbo” to the Berlinale.

This time he attends with “Mad Fate,” a film about destiny that may be Cheang’s most bloodthirsty, but which the director says is intended to be inspirational. It plays in the Berlinale Special section.

Born in Macau, Cheang developed his career at the feet of Ringo Lam, Andrew Lau, Joe Ma, Wilson Yip and Johnnie To, the great stylists of the crime and action film genre across the Pearl River estuary in Hong Kong. To, who is on the Berlin jury this year, is also a producer on “Mad Fate” through his Makerville label.

“Essentially the story is about a fortune teller who meets a young man who has this really strong desire to commit murder.

‘Motorway’ Director In The Driving Seat

Cheang Pou Soi (better known as Soi Cheang) whose latest film “Mad Fate” will premiere this month at the Berlin Film Festival, will be further honored next month when the Hong Kong International Film Festival makes him its Filmmaker in Focus.

He was born in Macau, but gained his footing in the much larger Hong Kong film industry, under the tutelage of Ringo Lam, Andrew Lau, Joe Ma, Wilson Yip and Johnnie To. He achieved a breakthrough with 1999 digital video “Our Last Day.”

“Cheang is a key figure among Hong Kong’s post-1997 generation of filmmakers and notable for his sombre but unmistakably personal visual style,” Hkiff Society director Albert Lee said in a statement. “He seldom deviates from mainstream storytelling conventions, but innovatively explores new boundaries of filmmaking across different genres, from horror and thriller to action films. In the stark dystopia he creates,...

The 47th Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF47) will honour Soi Cheang as this year’s Filmmaker-in-Focus.

One of Hong Kong’s most stylish and formidable directors, Cheang joins an illustrious and growing list of recent Hkiff Filmmakers-in-Focus, including Sandra Ng, Stanley Kwan, Michael Hui, Sammo Hung and Brigitte Lin.

Returning to its traditional dates after last year’s postponement, HKIFF47 will take place from 30 March to 10 April. At the centre of this year’s cinephile extravaganza is the showcase of Cheang’s 12 seminal works, the publication of a commemorative book and, in collaboration with long-term festival partner Moleskine, the release of a limited edition notebook. Cheang will also attend a Face-to-Face session to share his insights and vision with the public.

In making the announcement, Hong Kong International Film Festival Society Executive Director Albert Lee paid tribute to Cheang and said the festival was proud to recognise his indelible contribution to Hong Kong cinema.

How does one begin to describe Face/Off? Search through contemporary reviews and recent retrospectives and it’s words like “crazy” and “ridiculous,” even “cheesy” and “stupid.” This is a movie about two men – one special agent and one terrorist – who swap faces in a surgical procedure. A rendition of “Over the Rainbow” plays during a gunfight. Nicolas Cage grabs a woman’s butt and goes, “Agh!” while dressed up as a priest. Love it or hate it, everyone can likely agree on one thing: It’s impossible to take this movie entirely seriously. Nobody could. Except for maybe Andrew Lau, who told the South China Morning Post that “Around 1998, I saw Face/Off, and I really liked that movie.” An unusually reserved response. He continues, “With that movie as an inspiration, I began to think about a story in which two people swap identities.” That story turned into the Hong Kong blockbuster Infernal Affairs,...

2021 was one of the best years in recent memory for Asian films on physical media, with a number of boutique, established and newer labels realising the market for it and trying to capitalise on it, giving us consumers and collectors plenty to spend our money on and lots of Asian cinemas to watch. And if it seemed hard to top, most labels one-upped themselves by giving us even more releases, giving fan favourites, classics as well as hidden gems on stacked blu-ray and 4K Uhd releases.

Without further ado, we list here 30 Best Asian DVD and Blu-ray releases of 2022, in no particular order.

1. Ptu (Spectrum Films)

French Spectrum has been investing heavily in the “Golden Era” of Hong Kong cinema with a number of titles, but the Johnnie To’s “Ptu” is definitely one of the releases that truly stand out. The six (!) discs of the collection are filled...

On the JoBlo Movies YouTube channel, we will be posting one full movie every day of the week, giving viewers the chance to watch them entirely free of charge. Today’s Free Movie of the Day is the 2019 action thriller Assassin’s Game, which is also known by the title Maximillian. You can watch the movie over on the YouTube channel linked above, or you can just watch it in the embed at the top of this article.

Directed by Keith Collins II, who also wrote the screenplay with Porche Robinson, Assassin’s Game has a short and simple synopsis:

The secret team of assassins, the Shadows, are put to the test in an ultimate game of survival.

The film stars B.J. Halsall, Vernard Adams, Demond Ballou, Jassen Bruegman, Ember Burns, George Comer, John Dannug, James Eckstein, Shalanda Fresh, Ben Garton, Thomas H.F. Gassaway, Carol Germano, Sal Germano, Stephen Haas,...

More than a decade after his feature directorial debut “The Days” (2008) filmmaker Boi Kwong is back in the director’s chair with Singapore crime thriller “Geylang.”

The film premiered at the Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival and will have its Southeast Asia premiere at the Singapore International Film Festival in the Panorama strand.

In the film, on the eve of election nomination day, an aid worker, pimp, sex worker, doctor, cigarette seller and political candidate cross paths on the neon-drenched streets of Singapore’s notorious red-light district, Geylang.

The film is produced by Singaporean superstar Jack Neo’s J Team Productions (“Ah Girls Go Army”) and local firm MM2 Entertainment (“Precious is the Night”).

“No filmmaking journey is easy. My first feature film was back in 2008. It was a youthful effort and the beginning of my love affair with the medium. The film industry in Singapore back then was not ready to support first-time filmmakers,...

Corruption and the way it usually connects the police with the politicians and the “capital” has always been a source of inspiration for filmmakers, with a number of titles presenting its blights in their respective countries, with particularly Korean cinema leaning heavily on the subject.. The result is frequently masterful, with a number of great films of all time having the particular concept as their main theme. 24 of those are amassed in this list, in alphabetical order, as usually, with a focus on diversity.

1. A Dark, Dark Man

The most evident element here is the direct accusation Yerzhanov points towards the Kazakh system, particularly in rural areas, with the ways the police conduct their business in cooperation with politicians essentially deeming them even worse criminals than the ones they are supposed to deal with. At the same time, this comment allows for the two protagonists to stand out, through a rather thorough character analysis,...

A city enjoying a spectacular growth spur and a metropolis dying out as we speak. A star looking for a way out from a deadly trap and a teenager determined to have a say in her own future. Japanese feel-good movies and terrifying horrors. As always, Five Flavours offers a full spectrum of moods, emotions, and themes. We announce the complete program of the Festival and kick off tickets sales!

Five Flavours Asian Film Festival is the annual review of the best cinema from East, Southeast, and South Asia organized in Poland. Since 2006, it presents the premieres of the newest, carefully selected films from the region, the classics from Asian archives, retrospectives of selected filmmakers, and reviews of national cinemas.

This year’s selection includes 39 meticulously chosen films, 30 of which will be available online, on the territory of Poland only. After the success of last year’s hybrid edition, Five...

Tony Leung Chiu-wai, the Hong Kong star of “In The Mood For Love” and Marvel’s “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” has been named Asian Filmmaker of the Year by the Busan International Film Festival. Leung will collect his award at the festival’s opening ceremony on Oct. 5. 2022.

The festival will open with a screening of “Scent of Wind” by Hagi Mohaghegh. The Iranian director previously won the 2015 New Currents competition in Busan with his second feature “Immortal.”

The festival will close with “A Man,” from Japan’s Ishikawa Kei. The title premiered this week at the Venice film festival in the Orrizonti section.

Busan organizers said that the festival will play a total of 243 films (features and shorts) from 71 countries and territories. These include 89 world premieres and 13 international premieres.

After two years of disruptions the festival will operate largely normally. This includes a red carpet opening ceremony,...

"I suspect Sam has a mole in the department." Janus Films has revealed a new 4K restoration trailer for an iconic Hong King crime trilogy titled Infernal Affairs, best known as the film series that was remade into Martin Scorsese's Oscar winning film The Departed. Many cinephiles are already familiar with these films, but if you haven't watched them yet, Criterion Collection is re-releasing them as a Blu-ray box set later this year after they re-open in theaters first. A blockbuster in Asia, Andrew Lau and Alan Mak’s groundbreaking policier saga traded the high-octane ballistics of earlier Hong Kong films for a cooler, crisper style and a head-spinning plot full of twists that forever changed the genre. A must see set of films!! New 4K restoration from the original camera negatives was carried out by L'Immagine Ritrovata Asia. Presented in its original aspect ratio of 2.35:1. The original...

The highly influential and wildly successful Infernal Affairs trilogy from Andrew Lau and Alan Mak is returning to the big screen in 4K Ultra HD. Per Indiewire, the Hong Kong action franchise will be shown off in its newly restored form with a screening at the Lincoln Center, giving new viewers the clearest look possible at the acclaimed film and its sequels that inspired one of Martin Scorsese's biggest films. Screenings of all three films begin on September 16.

With Tony Leung and Andy Lau recently reuniting for the new feature Goldfinger, it’s only fitting that restorations of the iconic Hong Kong stars’ crime trilogy Infernal Affairs would arrive this fall. Directed by Andrew Lau Wai-keung and Alan Mak, all three films will be given a theatrical run starting at Film at Lincoln Center on September 16, followed by a release from the Criterion Collection, and now the new trailer has arrived.

The digital transfers were created in 4K resolution on an Arriscan film scanner from the original camera negative. The original stereo soundtracks were remastered from the digital audio master files. See the official synopsis (of course echoed in Martin Scorsese’s The Departed) below.

The Hong Kong crime drama was jolted to new life with the release of the Infernal Affairs trilogy, a bracing, explosively stylish critical and commercial triumph that introduced a dazzling level of narrative...

One of the most striking examples of Hong Kong action films at their absolute finest is Andrew Lau and Alan Mak’s “Infernal Affairs.” The 2002 film followed a cop who infiltrates a deadly gang and a mole from the same gang who joins the Hong Kong Police Force as the two men struggle to figure out who has betrayed them.

If that plot sounds familiar, it’s probably because you’ve seen “The Departed.” Martin Scorsese’s Oscar-winning Boston crime thriller is a remake of “Infernal Affairs,” though the original film’s legacy is far bigger than its remake. It also spawned two beloved sequels, “Infernal Affairs II” and “Infernal Affairs III,” resulting in one of the most highly acclaimed film trilogies of the century.

And now, fans and newcomers alike will get to experience the films with unprecedented clarity when a new 4K restoration of the trilogy begins screening...

Last year, Ben Stykuc wrote in his review of “Three Days of a Blind Girl”: “In retrospect, Anthony Wong is the only actor I know that could outNicolasCage Nicolas Cage”, and his comment could not have been more spot on. Having build his career with secondary roles and first roles in Cat III films, Wong eventually managed to become one of the most respected character actors in the industry with a string of awards and outstanding performances to his credit. Just his presence is frequently enough by itself to elevate the films he participates in, with him portraying rather different characters throughout his career, with equal artistry and much gusto. To celebrate this wonderful actor, we present 16 of his best performances, in alphabetical order, focusing on a diversity of roles that have him play from a a priest to rapist, from a cop to a sadistic killer, and anything between.

Acting and directing were not on Jay Chou’s mind when he first began his music career nearly two decades ago. But over the years, he has accumulated several memorable film and TV roles locally in Asia and in Hollywood. And, between music ventures, he has sat in the film director’s chair.

“I was born to believe in myself and complete my work on my own,” Chou said in a 2012 interview, discussing his work in acting and directing. “Once I understand how something works, I like to do it myself.”

His screen career began in 2005, when Chou made his film debut with the release of car-racing action feature “Initial D,” an on-screen adaptation of the Japanese manga of the same name, directed by Hong Kong’s Andrew Lau and Alan Mak (“Infernal Affairs”).

The singer-songwriter from Taiwan was cast to play the film’s lead role, an emotionally reserved...

A marathon screening of all three “Infernal Affairs” films has been announced for the much delayed 46th edition of the Hong Kong International Film Festival.

The three films, all restored and upgraded to 4K digital prints, lead off a six- film section of Chinese-language restored classics at the festival.

The Hkiff was this year postponed from its usual March-April slot to August, due to the fifth wave of the Covid pandemic which closed Hong Kong cinemas for the first months of 2022. It will now take place from Aug. 15-31 for 17 days, again adopting a hybrid format, featuring screenings and audience-engagement events in theatres and online.

Other titles in the section include: Ann Hui’s “Boat People” from 1982; Lou Ye’s “Suzhou River” from 2000; and Hou Hsiao-Hsien’s “Millennium Mambo” from 2001.

Delivered in 2002 and featuring a narrative about an undercover cop battling a triad mole, “Infernal Affairs,” was one of the...

Actually the third installment in the series, since “No Risk, No Gain” followed the initial one, “Casino Raiders II” essentially uses gambling in order to present a melodramatic actioner, in a distinct Hk style.

on YesAsia

Chicken Feet, Kit and James were Uncle Fan’s apprentices in the past. When Uncle Fan brought them to Osaka to compete with Taro Yamamoto, James colluded with Yamamoto and betrayed Fan, but still lost to Kit. James killed Yamamoto after the latter berated him, in a series of events that led to Chicken Feet rescuing Fan, who is crippled after leaping off a high platform to escape from James, and Kit being beaten by James’s henchmen and framed for murdering Yamamoto, leading him to prison. Now, Chicken Feet assists, along with his girlfriend Mui, in running a gambling den with Uncle Fan, while training for the upcoming Asia Gambling Tournament.

Racing films were all the rage in the early 2000s thanks to the successful launch of the Hollywood “The Fast and the Furious” franchise. A year before that franchise relocated briefly to Tokyo for its third drive, which introduced and focused on the technique of drifting, Hong Kong cinema also turned to Japan for “Initial D”, a feature based on a manga and anime of the same name, which also looked at the world of street racing and drifting in Japan.

“Initial D” is screening at Udine Far East Film Festival

By day, Takumi Fujiwara works at the gas station of his best friend Itsuki’s father. Come nightfall, he goes down the nearby Mt. Akina and delivers tofu for his father Bunta “Tofuman” Fujiwara’s business in his father’s AE86 car. The Mt. Akina mountain pass is a favourite track amongst underground street racers as well as professionals,...

The 46th Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF46) will pay tribute to iconic actor-director-producer Sandra Ng as this year’s Filmmaker-in-Focus.

Re-scheduled to 15 – 31 August, the postponed HKIFF46 will celebrate Ng’s illustrious career with a retrospective of ten seminal works, the publication of a commemorative book and, in collaboration with the festival’s long-term partner Moleskine, a special edition notebook. Ng will also attend a Face-to-Face session to share her insights and anecdotes with the public.

Hong Kong International Film Festival Society Executive Director Albert Lee lauds Ng’s chameleon-like ability to deliver memorable performances across all genres and give layered nuances and diversity to each challenging role that reflects the dynamism of modern women.

“The evolution of Sandra’s career, from acting to directing and producing, reflects her multifaceted calibre and acumen and evidences the transformation of Hong Kong cinema,” Mr Lee said. “We are proud to recognise her indelible contributions.

Although the question of which Wong Kar-wai film is the best could last eternally, for this particular writer, there is no doubt that “Chungking Express” stands on a level above the rest, with the recent restorations actually cementing the fact in the most eloquent fashion. Let us check the reasons why.

“Chungking Express” is streaming on Mubi Malaysia

Cop 223 has been rejected by his former girlfriend, May, on April Fool’s Day. Since then, he has been buying one can of pineapple every day with an expiration date of May 1, his birthday, and in an utterly baseless assumption, he believes that if she does not call by the time he has bought 30 cans, their love will expire. In this scenario, he will eat all the cans. Eventually, he meets a woman with a blonde wig who tries to solve her own, much more dangerous issues, and the two of them start sharing their solitude.

Racing films were all the rage in the early 2000s thanks to the successful launch of the Hollywood “The Fast and the Furious” franchise. A year before that franchise relocated briefly to Tokyo for its third drive, which introduced and focused on the technique of drifting, Hong Kong cinema also turned to Japan for “Initial D”, a feature based on a manga and anime of the same name, which also looked at the world of street racing and drifting in Japan.

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By day, Takumi Fujiwara works at the gas station of his best friend Itsuki’s father. Come nightfall, he goes down the nearby Mt. Akina and delivers tofu for his father Bunta “Tofuman” Fujiwara’s business in his father’s AE86 car. The Mt. Akina mountain pass is a favourite track amongst underground street racers as well as professionals, who test their and each...

When it comes to Hong Kong cinema, there is very little question about the international significance of the works, which, besides being artistic accomplishment, made worldwide audiences notice the level of quality within the cinematic landscape of the director’s home country. Starting with one of his first directorial efforts, the 1988 action-drama “As Tears Go By”, you notice the way the filmmaker weaved together a story of two brothers, about betrayal, loyalty and growing up, while also maintaining a unique audiovisual approach, influenced by the works of film noir as well as the diversity of Hong Kong and its citizens. The movie proved to be a formidable commercial success too, and remained Wong Kar-wai’s most lucrative feature until it was overtaken by “The Grandmaster”.

“As Tears Go By” Will Screen at Five Flavours Asian Film Festival

In the streets of Hong Kong, two brothers, Wah (Andy Lau) and Fly...

Taiwanese auteur Tsai Ming-liang’s short “The Moon and the Tree” will world premiere at the upcoming Taipei Film Festival. The 23rd iteration will be held in-person from Sept. 23 to Oct. 9.

“The Moon and the Tree” will debut after Tsai’s 19-minute short “The Night” opens out of competition at Venice.

This will mark the third consecutive year that the Taipei Film Festival has featured work from Tsai. It screened his short “Your Face” in 2019, and his films “Days” and “Goodbye, Dragon Inn” in 4K restoration in 2020.

“Although it’s a short film, I’m serious about my participation in the festival,” Tsai said. He will participate in a discussion with the audience at the fest.

“The Moon and the Tree” features and tells the story of notable Taiwanese artists Lee Pei-jing and Chang Feng.

Lee rose to fame in the 1970s with her pop hit “I Love the Moon,...

To global medical workers who keep fighting with the pandemic.

Directed by Andrew Lau and based on real events, Chinese Doctors stars Zhang Hanyu, Yuan Quan, Zhu Yawen, Li Chen, along with Chinese rising stars in this certified hit. The film will be released in theaters in North America, Australia, and New Zealand on July 30th.

*Sydney and Melbourne are currently in lockdown, the film will be released after the situation turns better. Stay tuned for more release news!

When it comes to Hong Kong cinema, there is very little question about the international significance of the works, which, besides being artistic accomplishment, made worldwide audiences notice the level of quality within the cinematic landscape of the director’s home country. Starting with one of his first directorial efforts, the 1988 action-drama “As Tears Go By”, you notice the way the filmmaker weaved together a story of two brothers, about betrayal, loyalty and growing up, while also maintaining a unique audiovisual approach, influenced by the works of film noir as well as the diversity of Hong Kong and its citizens. The movie proved to be a formidable commercial success too, and remained Wong Kar-wai’s most lucrative feature until it was overtaken by “The Grandmaster”.

In the streets of Hong Kong, two brothers, Wah (Andy Lau) and Fly (Jacky Cheung), try to make a living working for the mob.

Foreign titles are few and far between during this period, when cinemas have been ordered to play new and classic “main melody” films.

Bona Film Group’s Chinese Doctors stayed atop the Chinese box office in its second weekend (July 16-18), according to figures from theatrical consultancy Artisan Gateway, grossing $44.2m for a cumulative total of $136.6m.

Directed by Hong Kong’s Andrew Lau, the patriotic drama about a group of medical professionals in the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic in Wuhan, stars Zhang Hanyu and Yuan Quan.

It beat off three local openers including musical comedy The Day We Lit Up The Sky,...

Patriotic titles continue to lead the China box office, with historical drama 1921 coming in second.

Patriotic titles continued to dominate the China box office this weekend, with Bona Film Group’s Chinese Doctors opening in pole position with $53.3m in its first three days (July 9-11), according to figures from theatrical consultancy Artisan Gateway.

Produced by Bona Film Group, the film reunites Hong Kong director Andrew Lau with the stars of his 2019 blockbuster The Captain — Zhang Hanyu and Yuan Quan — and also features Jackson Yee, who makes a special appearance in the film. The story follows a group of medical...

The Hong Kong International Film Festival has announced the cancelation of its world premiere screening of crime thriller “Where the Wind Blows.” The move appears to be part of the accelerating ‘mainlandization’ of Hong Kong’s entertainment industry.

The festival said Monday evening in a statement that screenings of “Where the Wind Blows” (previously known “Theory of Ambitions”) had been cancelled at the request of the film’s owner.

“Upon request from the film owner, the screenings of ‘Where the Winds Blows’ originally scheduled at 5.30 p.m. on 1 April and 2.30 p.m. on 4 April are cancelled due to technical reasons,” the festival said in a statement in English and Chinese.

The film was produced by Hong Kong’s Mei Ah Film Production in a co-venture with mainland Chinese firms Dadi Century and Global Group. Its production budget has been reported as $38 million.

The film is directed by Philip Yung, who...

Based on the real story of producer Roger Lee’s maid Ah Tao and directed by Ann Hui, “A Simple Life” has been an immediate success, despite dealing with a difficult and not-so-charming subject matter. Boasting incredible performances by two big stars, it earned Deanie Ip the prestigious Coppa Volpi Award at Venice Film Festival and re-boosted her career. The film then went on to win a plethora of other Awards.

“A Simple Life” is screening on Mubi

At the center of the story lies Ah Tao (Deanie Ip). Orphaned in very early age, she has been with Roger (Andy Lau) and his family for many years, way before Roger was born, and she has been raising the children, feeding them and caring almost as a mother. Now Roger is the only member of the family left in his Hong Kong family home, as the rest of the family is in the US.