Co-director of controversial Hong Kong film To My Nineteen-year-old Self apologises to school for awards acceptance speech, admits insensitivity
- William Kwok had urged peers ‘not to be scared, film it first, edit it first and screen it first’ despite documentary interviewee saying she never consented to public screening
- Principal of Ying Wa Girls’ School reveals Kwok’s written apology to school
The co-director of controversial Hong Kong documentary To My Nineteen-year-old Self has “deeply apologised” to Ying Wa Girls’ School for his acceptance speech at a top awards ceremony, admitting he was insensitive and had caused misunderstanding.
The coming-of-age documentary, directed by Mabel Cheung Yuen-ting and William Kwok Wai-lun, won best picture at the 41st Hong Kong Film Awards last month, despite being embroiled in controversy after one student interviewee said she had not consented to any public screenings.
Co-director Kwok had used his acceptance speech to urge fellow documentarians “not to be scared, film it first, edit it first and screen it first”.
Kwok’s written apology later to the school was only made public by principal Francis Kwan Hon-cheung on Sunday night, where he admitted making “inappropriate remarks” when accepting the best picture award.
“I … admit that my remarks that night did not fully consider the sensitive background of the incident, and the content of my speech caused public misunderstanding, I am deeply saddened by this,” Kwok wrote on April 18, two days after the awards. “I would like to extend my deepest apologies to the Hong Kong Film Awards, the school and the production team.”
Some internet users accused him of being “tone-deaf” and disrespectful towards the interviewees’ feelings.
Kwok said his “lack of consideration” during his speech that night caused misunderstandings with many people. “The original intention of my speech is by no means referring to the use of unscrupulous means to film work and not to abide by the law,” he added.
