UBC Asian Independent Cinema Showcase 2025 x TFAI Taiwan Docs
In Search of Light: Hong Kong x Taiwan Documentary Short Films
Date: Tuesday, May 6, 2025
Time: 19:00-20:15 (film screening); 20:15-21:00 (virtual Q&A)
Venue: AERL 120, Aquatic Ecosystems Research Laboratory, UBC
Address: 2202 Main Mall, University of British Columbia, Vancouver | Map | Parking
Co-presented by the UBC Asian Independent Cinema Showcase (AICS) and TFAI Taiwan Docs, “In Search of Light: Hong Kong x Taiwan Documentary Short Films” features the screening of two critically acclaimed documentaries, Cyclone 氣旋 and Colour Ideology Sampling.mov 顏色擷取樣本.mov, for the first time in Vancouver.
As an official selection of the 2024 Golden Horse Film Festival, MT’s Cyclone uses the typhoon as a timeline, compressing the events into a single day to portray the different facets of life in Hong Kong.
Named the Best Documentary Short Film at the 2024 Golden Horse Awards, CHAN Cheuk-sze, and Kathy WONG’s Colour Ideology Sampling.mov captures the creators’ discussions on the political symbolism of colors. By analyzing individual color samples, the documentary reveals the complexities and diversities behind these political symbols.
The three directors, MT, CHAN Cheuk-sze, and Kathy WONG will join the Vancouver audience for a virtual conversation in English.
This event will mark the closing of the UBC Asian Independent Cinema Showcase 2025 program.
The films will be shown in their original languages with English subtitles.
In-person event. All are welcome. Free admission.
Cyclone
氣旋
Hong Kong, Taiwan | 2024 | 13min | Documentary | Directed by MT
2024 Golden Horse Film Festival – Official Selection
Synopsis:
On 1st July 2022, as Hong Kong marks the 25th anniversary of its handover, tropical storm Chaba lashes the city. Cyclone captures the resilience and vibrancy of Hong Kong people as they navigate the day amidst historical significance and natural upheaval.
About the Director:
MT is a Hong Kong filmmaker who believes documentaries can preserve memories, and will persist in leaving indelible footnotes for Hong Kong through visual documentation.
影片簡介
2022年7月1日，香港迎來主權移交25週年，同日熱帶風暴暹芭襲港。本片以颱風的發展推進時間，將時間點壓縮在一天，捕捉了當天香港的各種場景和市民日常，呈現出七一「回歸日」的眾生相。
導演簡介
MT
在香港出生及成長，現為自由影像工作者，相信紀錄片能捍衛記憶，繼續以影像紀錄為香港留下駐腳。
Colour Ideology Sampling.mov
顏色擷取樣本.mov
Hong Kong, Taiwan | 2024 | 59min | Documentary | Directed by CHAN Cheuk-sze & Kathy WONG
2024 Golden Horse Awards - Best Documentary Short Film
2024 South Taiwan Film Festival - South Grand Prize
Synopsis:
Colors play a crucial symbolic role in political activities, as people use vivid attire to express their distinct political stances. "Hong Kong yellow" symbolizes democracy and freedom, akin to "Taiwan green," which signifies progress and independence. These colors share commonalities on certain levels. However, "Taiwan green" and "Taiwan blue" stand in opposition; the former supports progressive policies and sovereignty, while the latter is often associated with conservatism and support for unification.
This film captures creators' discussions on the political symbolism of colors, including debates on whether "Hong Kong yellow" can coexist with "Taiwan blue," and specific differences between "Hong Kong blue" and "Taiwan blue." By analyzing individual color samples, it reveals the complexities and diversities behind these political symbols.
About the Directors:
CHAN Cheuk-sze
Chan concluded her undergraduate studies at the School of Creative Media, City University of Hong Kong in 2019. Currently, she is pursuing a master's program at the Graduate Institute of Trans-disciplinary Arts, Taipei National University of the Arts. Chan aspires to nurture an enduring passion for the realm of moving images, a fervor that may pause but shall never find its conclusion.
WONG Kei-yiu Kathy
Kathy is currently a graduate student at the Department of Political Science at National Taiwan University, also an independent filmmaker and journalist. She is working on a feature documentary which was selected by CNEX CCDF, TCCF, Docs by the Sea & Tokyo Docs. She was also selected to the 2025 EFM toolbox programme.
影片簡介
顏色在政治活動中扮演著重要的象徵性角色，人們會透過鮮明的服飾表達自己鮮明的政治立場。「香港黃」代表民主和自由，與之類似的「台灣綠」則象徵進步和獨立。這些色彩在某些層面上顯示出共通性。然而，「台灣綠」與「台灣藍」是對立的，前者支持進步政策和主權，後者通常與保守和統一主義相聯繫。
本影片捕捉了創作者對政治色彩意義的討論，當中包括：「香港黃」與「台灣藍」是否可以並存，以及「香港藍」與「台灣藍」的具體差異等，並通過分析個體色彩樣本，揭示了政治象徵背後的複雜性和多樣性。
導演簡介
陳卓斯
2019年畢業於香港城市大學創意媒體系，在需要多一台攝影機的年代裡，有一段作為獨立記者的美好時光，現就讀國立臺北藝術大學藝術跨域研究所。自我期許能成為那個永遠對流動影像保持熱情的人，休而不止。
王紀堯
台大政治所不務正業的研究生。獨立製片、影像和文字工作者，關注政治、人權、文化等議題。 以製片身分參與紀錄長片開發，該項目曾入圍CNEX CCDF, TCCF, 印尼Docs by the Sea 和 東京紀錄片提案大會。入選2025柏林影展製片工作坊。
About the Asian Independent Cinema Showcase:
The Asian Independent Cinema Showcase (AICS) is a UBC-based film festival that aims to foster a film appreciation community within and beyond the university; cultivate media literacy and cross-cultural understanding; and give voices to independent stories told by Asian filmmakers. Broadly speaking, an "independent film" is considered to be a creative work produced outside big or mainstream studios. Through the lens of independent cinemas, the AICS is committed to serve as a participatory platform for publication and dialogue between independent storytellers, underrepresented groups, cultural practitioners, emerging talents, academics, students, and members of the public.
The AICS is co-convened and co-organized by Dr. Helena Wu, Canada Research Chair in Hong Kong Studies, and Jimmy Lo, award-winning filmmaker and film educator, who is also a UBC alumnus (MFA Film Production '24).
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More about the UBC Asian Independent Cinema Showcase
This event is part of the Asian Independent Cinema Showcase program co-organized with Taiwan Film and Audiovisual Institute x Taiwan Docs, and the UBC Hong Kong Studies Initiative; and is supported by UBC Department of Asian Studies, and SFU Institute for Transpacific Cultural Research.
Special acknowledgement: Ying E Chi.