Captive audience
ANN HUI ON-WAH has attended film festivals around the world, but there will always be a place in the director's heart for the annual Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF). And not just because her latest drama, Jade Goddess of Mercy, will be one of the opening films at this year's movie marathon. Hui says she's always among the audience, even when she isn't screening a movie.
'I've always liked the Hong Kong film festival because it started more or less the same time I started making films,' Hui says.
'A lot of my cultural sustenance came from going to watch a whole lot of movies every year in this concentrated way. Also, as a filmmaker, I find the audiences are very kind, especially to local films. That's why I am very relaxed here. But I do get really worried if even they think a film is not so good.'
Hui says the festival has not changed much in its 28 years. There are more prestigious international festivals, but Hong Kong remains a haven for devoted film fans.
'Usually, if I have a film in competition at a festival, I feel very uptight,' Hui says. 'Hong Kong doesn't have that, so I'm relatively relaxed. It doesn't have the parties and atmosphere of a Cannes or Berlin. But I don't think it's necessary for a festival to have that. I like this festival precisely because it's really for film-goers.
'Considering other places get more government and other subsidies, I think the film quality and quantity here can match any of the great international festivals.'
With more than 250 showings on the festival programme, fans are spoilt for choice. Hui says movie buffs should attend with a specific agenda. 'I usually watch the documentaries because I don't get to see many of them in Hong Kong,' she says. 'And I am quite indiscriminate. I mean, I just watch any documentary that comes along, even if I don't know the filmmaker.
'This is how I get inspiration, too. For example, if you watch 10 documentaries in one week, then I think you'll get an idea of what people in the world are concerned with. Also, I try to catch up with world films that I've missed.'
Hui also looks for films that have made an impression or won major prizes at other festivals. That's a lot of viewing. So, just how many films can the director sit through in one day? 'When I am not working, I watch a lot of festival movies. I usually see at least two films a day, sometimes even four.
'I try to schedule the films, one after another, until I get almost a high from them. Some friends of mine can watch as many as five movies a day.'
