The world premiere of Keane Wong’s Afterpiece is set to open the 28th Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF, June 12-21).
The Hong Kong drama is produced by renowned filmmaker Derek Yee and marks Stephen Fung’s return to acting in Hong Kong cinema after time away as a director.
Fung plays a theatre director who attempts to rebuild his career but finds himself caught between a former lover, his estranged wife and a newcomer actress, shifting between reality and the world of his new play. The cast is also led by Angela Yuen, Myolie Wu and Chrissie Chau. It is the feature directorial debut of filmmaker Wong.
According to SIFF, the film was selected as this year’s opening film not only because of the bold artistic merits from a first feature film, but also because of the nurturing and mentoring spirit between different generations of filmmakers behind the production.
The project is supported by the Directors’ Succession Scheme, a funding programme from Hong Kong Film Development Council to nurture rising filmmakers through mentorship. Wong worked closely with Yee on I Am Somebody, Sword Master and In Search Of Lost Time.
Veteran filmmaker Yee has been instrumental in launching the career of a new generation of Hong Kong filmmakers. In recent years, he has produced In Broad Daylight for Lawrence Kan and Time Still Turns The Pages for Nick Cheuk. Both films earned acclaim and commercial success and competed in SIFF’s Asian New Talent section in 2023.
SIFF previously announced that Hong Kong actor Tony Leung Chiu-wai will preside over the jury of the main competition of the Golden Goblet Awards.
Singapore director Anthony Chen, US filmmaker Geeta Gandbhir, and UK animator and director Will Becher will chair the Asian New Talent, documentary and animation competition sections respectively. The jury panel across the various categories comprises 21 members from 16 countries and regions.
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