All About Us Film Festival 2021

All About Us Film Festival 2021 will be held from 30 October to 20 November! ifva has always been keen to promote the creation of short films and moving images, and presented the first edition of “All About Us” creative media education programme for ethnic minority youths in 2009, with numerous short films made and produced over the years. Entering its eleventh year, the first All About Us Film Festival will be held at the Hong Kong Arts Centre Louis Koo Cinema, which includes the cinema premiere of Ryan Chan’s Golden Horse nominated short film The Poem of Pakistan, “All About Us” alumni and new actor who debuted with Hand Rolled Cigarette Bipin Karma’s directorial new short Melting Pot, Wan King-fai’s feature documentary Gone With Wind, and a series of selected short films by “All About Us” students and local creatives. On top of cinema screenings, a series of community screenings will also be held. This is a precious chance for members to speak for diversity and break down the boundaries in terms of race, language, and gender.

A special project to celebrate the tenth anniversary of “All About Us”

30 Oct 2021 (SAT) | 6pm | Louis Koo Cinema, Hong Kong Arts Centre

20 Nov 2021 (SAT) | 12pm | Louis Koo Cinema, Hong Kong Arts Centre (Additional Screening)

The Poem of Pakistan

Ryan Chan Hon-yan

Col / 25’00” / In Cantonese and Urdu with Chinese and English subtitles

Nominated for The 58^th Golden Horse Awards, 2021 Taipei Film Festival and 2021 Kaohsiung Film Festival.

*After screening discussion with Ryan Cha Hon-yan (Director), Inderjeet Singh (Main Cast), Wong Wai-nap (Cinematographer), Didi Wu (Moderator)

Hamid, a young Pakistani, is an insurance and investment broker. No matter how hard he tries, he finds it hard to be part of the society. He works hard to earn a living and has to take shortcuts sometimes. While handling a medical claim issue, he gets to meet a Pakistan youth who loves Pakistani literature. This encounter brings back Hamid’s memories of his homeland and his family, leading him to reflect on his current way of life.

Through the camera lens we see the Ethnic Minority youth’s perspective

30 Oct 2021 (SAT) | 2:30pm | Louis Koo Cinema, Hong Kong Arts Centre

Conversation: What it's like to grow up an ethnic minority in Hong Kong

Special Screening: Melting Pot by Bipin Karma

*Panel discussion with Bipin Karma (Director), Mo Lai Yan-chi (Teaching Artist), Payal Biswas (Project Manager, Hong Kong Unison), Dr. Rizwan Ullah (Educator)

Like the locals, ethnic minority youths are facing challenges during their life stage: school climate, mental health and peer relationship. “All About Us” has served as the first step to introduce moving image creation to many of the ethnic minority youths in Hong Kong. Among them is Bipin Karma, who first participated in the programme in 2013, has eventually continued to join in consecutive years, and directed his first short film Melting Pot. He made his major film debut this year with his role in Hand Rolled Cigarette.

Melting Pot

Bipin Karma

Col / 16’00” / In Cantonese, English, Hindi and Urdu with Chinese and English subtitles

A teacher in a designated secondary school selects five ethnically diverse students to compete for a representative role before a counsellor but they must find a solution to what has recently divided them first.

A documentary about abandoned Vietnamese refugees

30 Oct 2021 (SAT) | 8:15pm | Louis Koo Cinema, Hong Kong Arts Centre

Gone with Wind

Wan King-fai

Col & B&W/ 90’ / In Cantonese with Chinese and English subtitles

*After screening discussion with Wan King-fai (Director), Cheng Oi-yue (Director), Didi Wu (Moderator)

To the group of homeless people living under a bridge in Sham Shui Po, they need to cope with passersby’s stares and face the frequent raids by government officials in daily basis. Led by a local pastor, a group of volunteers show them there are people who actually care and are willing to lend a helping hand.

Ethnic Minorities in Hong Kong: Dreams vs Reality

The “All About Us” programme has groomed moving image creatives across generations with works focusing on the conditions, mentality and daily lives of ethnic minority. This city has been through drastic changes over the years, did this also bring changes to the subject matters of students’ works? To many of us, this should be a land of dreams, but there seem to be an enormous distance between the two. Two showcases of selected works from the programme, not only allow audiences to revisit the past, but also to anticipate a better future.

Programme 1

20 Nov 2021 (SAT) | 7:30pm | Louis Koo Cinema, Hong Kong Arts Centre

US

Muauuidh, Dil Ajmaeen Pel-Ingen, Muaadh Makhdoom, Haris Muhammad, Pargat Singh Gill, Muhammed Ibrahim Numan, Shamsu Thabrej, Salam Abul, Ummar Haryat Khan

Col / 7’8” / In Pashto and English with English subtitles

Everyone has their own story, goal, dream and everyone has gone through something special that has inspired them. “US” is about each of our story that we would like to show the existence as well as the connection between people.

YATRI

Hui Chi-sang

Col / 13’10” / In Nepalese with Chinese and English subtitles

A Nepalese household is broken in; a Nepalese child reads out his diary in Cantonese. The film is a record of the lives of two different generations.

Be a Rider or a Fool

Law Wai-leung

Col / 11’08” / In Cantonese with Chinese and English subtitles

Using dramatic scenes and interviews, Be a Rider or a Fool recreates a robbery that takes place in Hong Kong. Bebo is a South Asian youth born and bred in Hong Kong. Through observing how he deals with the conflict and his reflections about this incident, this film reflects the sense of helplessness that Hong Kong people feel.

Summertime Blues

Lam Sum

Col / 17’02” / In Cantonese with Chinese and English subtitles

Chi Keung is a local born Pakistani teenager. He works in his relative’s restaurant as a delivery boy. On this hot summer day, he delivers food with his bicycle as usual, weaving through the network of old and new streets in the Central and Western District. However, he loses the bicycle during a ride, but this eventually leads him to discover new scenery, encounter different people and things.

Before It's Too Late

Ali Shamaz, Butt Abdul Mueed Sajid, Atique Hamza

Col & B&W / 11’36” / In English with English subtitles

The suicide angel Jon falls in love with a mortal woman who's an anti-suicide counsellor, Nat.

Knowing that Nat's also having suicidal thoughts, Jon struggles between completing his job or give up his immortality and try to save her.

Programme 2

20 Nov 2021 (SAT) | 9pm | Louis Koo Cinema, Hong Kong Arts Centre

I Am Owais

Owais Muhammad, Ajab Khan, Wavoo Seyed Abdur Rahman Fareed, Salam Abdul, Sadakkathullah Insaf Idris, Reza Md Nahyan, Haris Muhammad, Pargat Singh

Col / 7’06” / In Pashto with English subtitles

This is a one day journey of a typically slacking yet innovative, humourous and hardworking Pakistani high schooler Owais. Based in Hong Kong, he combats through various daily ups and downs with his passion in cricket and his spirituality.

Drifting

Lam Sum

Col / 26’ / In Cantonese with Chinese and English subtitles

Fai, a ten-year-old boy who’s a new immigrant from mainland China, he lives in a narrow suite with his mother and his step-father. The step-father loves gambling, the mother works long hours and seldom at home, Fai vaguely has the idea of “family”. One day, he met a Pakistani boy Khan, who was born and raised in Hong Kong. Khan, as a local, shown Fai of his new home and brought him to family dinners. However, while the friendship is building up, Khan’s family has to move out of the community because of the city redevelopment and the rising property cost. The city seems lonely and helpless for everyone. The only thing Fai wants to do, is to bid Khan farewell, the only connection between this city and him.

Drive

Bipin Bishwokarma, Cheng Tsz-ching, Rai Phirens, Remi Iwasaki

Col / 17’14” / In Cantonese and English with Chinese and English subtitles

Akash is a year 1 university student. He has not done much to overcome his weakness, i.e. to speak Cantonese. One day he meets Lilian and falls in love at first sight. Knowing she speaks Cantonese, he seeks help from Google translate to communicate with her, which becomes his motivation to learn Cantonese. Just like any other love story, there are ups and downs before the two young souls turn into lovers. Being with Lilian, Akash realises not only has he grown up mentally but also his ability to speak Cantonese.

The Waterside

Joseph Wu

Col / 20’ / In English with English subtitles

Moving Images of Ethnic Minorities: Showcase in Community

On top of cinema screenings, the film festival will be organising thematic community screenings with local organisations, bringing moving images and documentaries of ethnic minorities to the different corners of the city.

Screening + Discussion @ Kino, Eaton HK

19 Nov 2021 (FRI) | 7:30pm | Kino, 1/F Eaton HK, 380 Nathan Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong

**Special Guest: Ray Lau, Law Wai-leung and more guest speakers

Have a Nice Day

Lau Kok Rui Ray

Col / 25’ / In Urdu, Cantonese and English with Chinese and English subtitle

A Pakistani immigrant left with nothing tries to salvage the relationship with his departed wife and son by trying to find new work and proving that he is ready for a new life. Yet, Hong Kong has no place for this ethnic minority who has no education and a criminal record. Taking a risk, he borrows a car from his friend and begins his career as a desperate riding app driver.

Be a Rider or a Fool

Law Wai-leung

Col / 11’08” / In Cantonese with Chinese and English subtitles

The Ghost Friend

Singh Harveer Dhillon、Mahmood Hussain、Mohammad Zaryab Yusuf、Brazil Mikaela Darlene Buhia、Jemimah Keziah Bautista Jardin、Adil Muhammaed

2015 / Col / 4’50” / In English with English subtitles

This is a simple story about a guy moving into a new flat which a ghost lives in and the ghost tries to make friend with him. This story wants to tell the message that listening is one of the most crucial element when it comes to communication.

Where are you?

Johnathan Abellano, Madhavi Gurung, Khan Fardin Dipon, Rana Samikshya, DotDot Alfs Bryan Pabellan, Vu Duc Manh, Jackey Hang Limbu, Irfan Ahmed, John Marcus Banda Mase

Col / 15’ 29” / In English with English subtitles

Sadness. Anger. Frustration. These are the emotions felt by a boy, like any other. Waking up and going to school had been an extreme struggle for him over the past few days. Will he ever break this “blue” cycle?

Screening ＋ Discussion @ Book Punch

27 Nov 2021 (SAT) | 7:30pm | 3/F, Tai Nam Commercial Building, 169-171 Tai Nan Street, Sham Shui Po, Kowloon

**Special Guest : Lam Sum, Ali Shamaz

Before It's Too Late

Ali Shamaz, Butt Abdul Mueed Sajid, Atique Hamza

Col & B&W / 11’36” / In English with English subtitles

The suicide angel Jon falls in love with a mortal woman who's an anti-suicide counsellor, Nat.

Knowing that Nat's also having suicidal thoughts, Jon struggles between completing his job or give up his immortality and try to save her.

Summertime Blues

Lam Sum

Col / 17’02” / In Cantonese with Chinese and English subtitles

Selected films screening @ YMCA Tin Shui Wai Tin Ching Centre

27 Nov 2021 (SAT) | 8pm | No.101, 1/F., Ancillary Facilities Block, Tin Ching Estate, Tin Shui Wai, N.T., Hong Kong

Not Even Close to Any K-Drama Ever

Lean Shrestha, Dewan Simran, Nirvana Thapa, Carl Jovellanos, Hermoza Josiah Joel Carlos

Col / 6’ 54” / In English with English subtitles

Seolhyun is an ordinary woman. One day, fate made her meet Minho, the son of a wealthy businessman. The two fall in love instantly. However, behind their relationship, a pair of evil hands is destroying their relationship in secret. Will they be able to live happily ever after?

What a Journey

Anisah Rehman, Sidra Saba, Gurung Shristi, Shreya Gurung, Arsy Nur Dinarti, Zachra Chairul Annam, Hamza Muhammed, Owais Muhammad, Ajab Khan, Husnain Muhammad, Rahman Fareed, Muhammad Fezan

Col / 7' 42" / In English with English subtitles

Archaz from Kaluna planet travels to the Earth to find “bluemoon”, but his remote control gets stolen by Diana, a girl on Earth. He arrives to realise that she has lost the remote control when showing it to someone else. The two end up looking for it until they stop in front of a shop that sells “bluemoon”.

Stealth Games

Abdul Rahman Moahamed Rizwan, Rahman MD Aniq, Haneef Ahmadh Abdul Mamaf, Ummar Haryat Khan, Abdul Fathah Shamsu Thabrej

Col / 10’ 47” / In English with English subtitles

Experienced contract killer Twist is sent to kill a growing drug lord. But once he gets captured, he is forced to change his plans.

The Diamond Dogs

Mohamed Rizwan, Xavier Galadriel Antonia, Joshua Dilan Banerjee, Chan Wing Yi Shivali, Asad Haider, Abdul Gaffoor Mohamed Nawfal, Vallo David Jonathan, Delos Reyes, Brandon, Ayisha, Mohammad Heena Sadia, Khan Sahira, Aqsa Naman

Col / 8' 25" / In English with English subtitles

David, an ex-gangster who was part of a small but strong gang called Diamond Dogs tries to live a normal life with his new girlfriend Michelle, but things take a sharp turn once she gets kidnapped.