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#Culture #Conscience
Hong Kong Filmmaker #KiwiChow: Prepared to face sanctions & imprisonment

Screened on the penultimate day of the 74th #Cannes Film Festival in mid-July 2021 is the Hong Kong protest documentary, #RevolutionOfOurTimes, which captured the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong in 2019, following the Government’s attempt to promulgate the extradition law.

Knowing that he could potentially be exposed to sanction under the territory’s National Security Law, director Kiwi Chow is the only name credited on the documentary, as his financiers and technical collaborators have all chosen to remain anonymous.

Chow was director of many popular Hong Kong films such like “Ten Year” (the short "Self- Immolator”) and “Beyond the Dream”. He acknowledged that only "Revolution of our Times" has given him the biggest strain.

Before the film's premiere, he was asked to remain anonymous. He also received threatening phone calls telling him to leave Hong Kong immediately. But Kiwi Chow chose to stay and carry on his life in Hong Kong as usual.

Chow is even willing to be interviewed by media to talk about freedom, talk about film and his belief.

Chow anticipated that the documentary will not be allowed to be shown in Hong Kong. He even prepared to face imprisonment. Chow said, “ I am innocent under the long standing framework of Basic Law, not to mention that the documentary was filmed and completed before the National Security Law was implemented.”

Chow said, if he is ever being arrested. He is certainly a political prisoner. “I think political prisoner is a self-invited humiliation to a regime.”

#PoliticalSuppression #Unafraid #Film #HongKongCinema

Source: Stand News; #Aug7
https://www.thestandnews.com/media/video/images/%E5%8B%87%E6%B0%A3%E4%B8%8D%E6%BB%85-%E5%91%A8%E5%86%A0%E5%A8%81
#FirstHand #PoliceState
HK Police sends undercover officer and interrupts private screening of #KiwiChow's movie

Source: First Hand, Citizen News; #Aug27

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#FirstHand #PoliceState
HK Police sends undercover officer and interrupts private screening of #KiwiChow's movie

A private screening of a Hong Kong romance movie "Beyond the Dream" was held on August 27, 2021 by a pro-democracy district councilor, Derek Chu Kong-wai, in his councilor's office in Mong Kok, Hong Kong.

The film's director, #KiwiChow, was invited to the screening to share his thoughts on its making.

The screening, however, was interrupted by a large group of police officers and officers from the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department.

The officers, initially, stationed outside Chu’s office while some entered his office to take photograph and record the scene. Soon after Kiwi Chow began sharing his thoughts on the making of the movie, police officers forced their way into the office space, accusing the attendees for breaching the 599G gathering restriction. Fine tickets were immediately issued to the 40 some citizens in attendance.

Police also set up a cordon line and told reporters to leave the office, calling it a crime scene.

Kiwi Chow and Chu Kong-wai spoke to media that the screening was a private event among friends. They felt that the actions of the police were absurd and unacceptable. Both questioned the police's rationale for sending an “undercover officer” to the private screening, as well as their definition of "public places".

However, Chow said that he still enjoyed the experience of the evening, because he was only sharing about the movie, and he hadn't talked about "Beyond the Dream" for quite some time. He also enjoyed the dialogue with the audience, and regretted that certain people had interfered.

"I really enjoy sharing about the movie, and I treasure the time of the dialogue. I have no fear; sharing the movie is a joy to me."

Editor's note:
Kiwi Chow is also the director of the documentary "#RevolutionOfOurTimes", which made international headlines with its surprise showing at the 2021 Cannes Film festival. "Beyond the Dream", a romance movie, received widespread support by Hong Kong moviegoers, and was among the top 10 most profitable movies in the city in 2020. It went on to win Best Adapted Screenplay at Taiwan's Golden Horse Award, and was also nominated for multiple other awards in Hong Kong and Taiwan.

#Aug27 #HongKongCinema #Film #PoliticalSuppression
Source: First Hand, Citizen News
Surprise #Screening of Hong Kong Protest Documentary "Revolution of Our Times" at Film Festival in #Japan

The Tokyo Filmex festival wrapped up on November 7, 2021 with the surprise screening of Hong Kong director Kiwi Chow's “Revolution of Our Times,” a documentary about the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong.

In an interview, a Hongkonger working in Japan told reporters that she cried so much and couldn’t stop while watching the film.

She added that the film was intense, which reminded her of countless police-civilian confrontations during the 2019 movement. “Perhaps , it is the pain that has connected Hongkongers,” she said.

Another local source reportrf that the theater was full as #Filmex quickly sold out some 700 tickets for the screening.

After the screening, the whole house of audiences stood on their feet and clapped for minutes to show their respect. Even some Japanese shed tears.

“Revolution of Our Times” had its world premiere in July in the #Cannes Film Festival, where the festival deliberately delayed announcing its programming in order to minimize the chance of political blowback from the Chinese government.

The Filmex organizers used the same approach and only announced the screening on November 6, which was one day before the event.

“Revolution of Our Times” was filmed by #KiwiChow for more than a year during the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong that was sparked off by the city government’s attempt to pass a law that would allow extradition to China.

The government action triggered massive peaceful protests, followed by several months of civil disobedience and on-street confrontation. This in turn was met by unprecedented military-style tactics on the part of Hong Kong police, an aggressive prosecution policy by the government and the imposition by Beijing of the #NationalSecurityLaw.

More recently, a new #FilmCensorship law introduced in Hong Kong in early November makes it unlikely that films like “Revolution of Our Times” will be allowed to screen in the city where it was made.

Sources: Citizen News; Stand News; Variety; #Oct7

https://bit.ly/3HkwA9J

#RevolutionOfOurTimes #HongKongCinema #Documentary #Art #FilmFestival #Censorship
Hong Kong's "Revolution of Our Times" Wins Best Documentary in Taiwan Film Awards;
Director: "This Film Belongs to Every Hongkonger Who Cried for Hong Kong"


"Revolution of Our Times" has won the Best Documentary at the 58th Golden Horse Film Festival and Awards in Taiwan.

Delivering his acceptance speech by video, director #KiwiChow thanked every person who was filmed and interviewed in this documentary.

One of them, Chow said, was a 16-year-old secondary school student. He was one of the Valiants and was trapped in the Polytechnic University along with Chow for several days during the #PolyU Siege. When he returned to class later. his identity was already made known, and he was trembling in fear when he stepped into his own classroom again. To his surprise, his classmates and teacher all hugged him. The whole room was in tears.

"I really wanted to include this scene in the film, but I couldn't. Still, I want Revolution of Our Times to be like this embrace. During the production, I cried many times. I felt like I relied on this film to comfort myself, to let out my anger and hate, to face my fears and trauma."

In closing, Chow remarked, "To those who remain in Hong Kong, including myself, those who are exiled overseas, and those in prison: My friends, although you may not have a chance to watch the film, I pray to my Heavenly Father that the mere existence of this film could be a comfort and an embrace. Thank you."

Source: Stand News #Nov27

https://thestandnews.page.link/EZfNdGW8CgCLuVVw6
#RevolutionOfOurTimes #GoldenHorse #FIlm #Award
#FilmScreening
New York to Hold World's first public screening of Hong Kong protest documentary “Revolution of our Times”


Directed by Hong Kong director #KiwiChow, the documentary “Revolution of our Times” chronicled the months-long pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong in 2019 and 2020 following the Government’s attempt to promulgate the extradition law.

The documentary offered an up-close and personal account of what happened on the protest frontlines.

First debuted in a surprise screeening in Cannes Film Festiv in July 2021, the controversial film soon found resonance in Taiwan’s Golden Horse Film Festival and Japan’s Filmex in subsequent months.

On November 10, 2021, the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam 2021 (#IDFA) also announced the screening of #RevolutionOfOurTimes under the Festival's Best of Fests selection.

A Hongkonger residing in #Netherlands told reporter that many audiences sobbed as they watched the film and the rustling sound of tissue paper could be heard throughout the screening.

He carried on saying that at the end of second screening, audiences applauded incessantly for nearly half a minute to show their respect. Many of them are indeed locals.

Some audiences even chanted protest slogan, “Liberate Hong Kong, Revolution of Our Time” as the film ends.

The documentary is also set for its first public screening in New York City from December 10 to 18, with more screenings in other US cities to be announced.

#KiwiChow #HongKongMovie #NationalSecurityLaw #Censorship #Art

Source: Stand News, #Nov20
https://thestandnews.page.link/uV5RWx1AC3kA6Dr48
#ProtestArt
Revolution of Our Times Wins "Most Influential" & "Best Cultural Image" Awards at FIPADOC Festival in France

Revolution of Our Times, a documentary banned in Hong Kong chronicling the 2019 Anti-ELAB Movement, has won two awards at the 2022 FIPADOC International Documentary Festival in France, in the catagories of "Most influential" and "Best Cultural Image".

This is the second time the film has won an international award, after taking home the Best Documentary at Taiwan's Golden Horse Film Festival in November last year.

Documentaries from Germany, France, and Belgium were also nominated at the FIPADOC awards, which honor films that inspire social justice, environmentalism, and human rights. The annual festival specializes in non-fiction films, and is now in its 34th year, having first been held in Cannes, France in 1987.

Since its premiere at Cannes Film Festival, every showing of "Revolution of Our Times" has attracted public attention and filled seats at film festivals around the world.

Director #KiwiChow, who resides in Hong Kong, had previously stated that he does not have a copy of the film on hand. The film is scheduled to be screened in Taiwan's theatres on February 25. It will be the first territory where the film is shown in public.

The documentary shows multiple angles of the Anti-ELAB protests from seven different iconic groups in the movement: former reporter turned activist #GwynethHo, who is now held in custody; professor #BennyTai; social workers; the seniors group #ProtectOurChildren; volunteer drivers; first aiders; university students turned frontline protesters; and high school students who left behind their wills before going out to fight.

The film weaves their stories together with now-classic images of the movement, and paints a realistic portrait of Hong Kong's fight for freedom and democracy.

See also: Hong Kong's "Revolution of Our Times" Wins Best Documentary in Taiwan Film Awards; Director: "This Film Belongs to Every Hongkonger Who Cried for Hong Kong
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/31526

Source: Commons HK; #Jan24

https://bit.ly/3IDxMVA

#RevolutionOfOurTimes #FIPADOC #Film #Award
#Documentary
Revolution of Our Times Shown in Cinemas in 5 Canadian Cities

#Film #ProtestArt #KiwiChow #RevolutionOfOurTimes

Sources: Commons HK, CanMen Facebook; #Feb14

Read more
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#Documentary
Revolution of Our Times Shown in Cinemas in 5 Canadian Cities

Although #RevolutionOfOurTimes" is barred from screening in Hong Kong, a Canada-based organisation took it to Canada for screening.

The award-winning documentary by Hong Kong Film director #KiwiChow is now showing in 5 Canadian cities, Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver and Victoria, beginning February 11.

CanMen, the group who organized the screening, said they originally planned only 4 screening sessions, but were overwhelmed by the public response as tickets were sold out in hours. After negotiating with cinemas, they added an additional 10 some screening sessions.

At Cineplex Odeon International Village in Vancouver, a small Lennon Wall was set up outside the theater for audiences to write down their feelings and responses.

The documentary took audiences back to three years ago, when the Anti-ELAB movement broke out in Hong Kong. Emotional sobbing can be heard in the theater throughout the showing.

At the end of the movie, audiences responded with thunderous applause. They sang "#GloryToHongKong," a popular protest song, and chanted "Liberate Hong Kong, Revolution of our Times."

The documentary will also be shown in Taipei, Taiwan from February 25 onward.

Sources:

Commons HK
cmmns.co/P9Ksz

CanMen Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/CanMenca/

#Feb14 #Film #ProtestArt
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#ProtestFilm #Interview
#KiwiChow, Director of #RevolutionOfOurTimes: "This film is for everyone"

Directed by Hong Kong director Kiwi Chow, "Revolution Of Our Times" is an award-winning documentary capturing the pro-democracy demonstrations that erupted in Hong Kong in 2019.

Just within the 14 days of its release in Taiwan, the film has set a box office record for an overseas Chinese-language documentary.

Even #TsaiIngWen, the president of Taiwan, watched it and endorsed the film.

Taking to Twitter, President Tsai stated, 'Hong Kong people's courage and commitment to democracy are an inspiration to us all, as we work to preserve our own freedoms and way of life.'

In an interview, director #KiwiChow thanked Tsai Ing-wen for supporting the documentary openly on social media and calling on people across the political spectrum to watch it.

#RevolutionOfOurTimes #NeverForget #HongKongFilm #Taiwan

Source: PSHK
https://fb.watch/bP5U8NMXmv/
#ProtestArt
Pro-democracy documentary depicting Anti-ELAB movement in Hong Kong in 2019 sets for international viewing on Vimeo in June

The award recognised documentary, Revolution of Our Times will soon be released internationally on Vimeo, an online streaming platform, on June 1, 2022.

The team of the documentary told supporters on the Facebook page that they want to let the world witness the determination and courage of the Hongkongers in the pursuit of democracy and freedom.

"Never forget why we started this journey, we hope the documentary will travel far, and reach out to more people," the team wrote.

#KiwiChow #ANTIELAB #PoliceState #PoliticalOppression

Pre-order links:
English only subtitled version
https://vimeo.com/ondemand/revolutionofourtimeseng

Chinese and English subtitled version https://vimeo.com/ondemand/revolutionofourtimes

Source: Inmediahk; #May27