Opinion | For Hong Kong’s film industry to thrive, it must embrace the digital like India and the US have
- Hong Kong government policies supporting the film industry are mired in nostalgia for the 1980s, even as film industries elsewhere zoom into a digital future
Hong Kong is blessed with cinematic talents. From Suk Suk (2019) and Still Human (2018) to 3 Generations 3 Days (2019), local filmmakers have continued to portray the unique spirit of our city and its people. The government, however, must offer more avenues for their work to shine.
Undoubtedly, the government is committed to building a healthy ecosystem for the film industry: it injected HK$1 billion (US$128 million) into the Film Development Fund this year, the largest amount since 1999, and implemented five new measures in July to energise the industry amid Covid-19, including a Director’s Succession Scheme, Scriptwriting Incubation Programme and free short-term advanced training courses.
Despite good intentions, nostalgia underlies funding policies for the film sector. Current policies are hindered by an era of Hong Kong cinema – the 1980s – that policymakers can’t seem to let go of. They have yet to embrace digital transformations in film production, exhibition and consumption.
Gangster act gives way to tear-jerking role for ‘Still Human’ actor Anthony Wong
