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Brit rockers Kaiser Chiefs and legendary DJ Pete Tong were among the musical headliners at the Hong Kong Sevens rugby tournament last month, which also doubled as the debut event at the city’s new Kai Tak Stadium.

Sponsored by Hong Kong’s home airline carrier, Cathay Pacific, the weekend-long event brought out more than 110,000 fans, according to organizers, topping previous tournament attendance records. Argentina took home the...

The 18th Asian Film Awards proudly announces this year’s recipients of the Excellence in Asian Cinema Award —Korean screen icon Jang Dong-gunand acclaimed Chinese actress Tang Wei. Recognised for their remarkable achievements and lasting contributions to Asian cinema, both esteemed actors will attend the awards ceremony on March 16 at the Xiqu Centre in Hong Kong’s West Kowloon Cultural District to accept this prestigious honour.

Jang Dong-gun expressed his gratitude, saying, “It is a tremendous honour to receive this award, and I sincerely thank the Asian Film Awards for this recognition. Having my three-decade acting career acknowledged is deeply meaningful and inspires me to keep going. I look forward to sharing this joy with everyone in Hong Kong.” Tang Wei also shared her excitement, stating, “I am truly grateful to the Asian Film Awards for recognising my work. Hong Kong has always been special to me, and I...

The Asian Film Awards has unveiled Korean veteran actor Jang Dong-gun and Chinese actress Tang Wei as this year’s recipients of the Excellence in Asian Cinema Award, which will be presented during the awards ceremony in Hong Kong on March 16.

With more than 30 years in the film and television industry, Jang has starred in top Korean films like Friend, Taegukgi: The Brotherhood of War, No Tears for the Dead and A Normal Family, among others. He has also acted alongside Hong Kong talent like Cecilia Cheung and Nicholas Tse in Chen Kaige’s pan-Asian production The Promise and reunited with Cheung in Dangerous Liaisons.

Tang played leading roles in Park Chan-wook’s Decision to Leave and Bi Gan’s Long Day’s Journey into Night. She also co-starred with Chris Hemsworth in Michael Mann’s Blackhat and worked on numerous Hong Kong productions and co-productions like The Golden Era, Office...

Hong Kong – Two widely recognized actors, Tang Wei and Jang Dong-gun, will be honored with the Excellence in Asian Cinema Award at the 18th Asian Film Awards on March 16. The event, hosted at the Xiqu Centre in Hong Kong’s West Kowloon Cultural District, highlights performers and filmmakers who have made a lasting impact on the industry.

Jang, a Korean actor with more than three decades in the spotlight, expressed his appreciation for the recognition. “It is a tremendous honor to receive this award, and I sincerely thank the Asian Film Awards for this recognition. Having my three-decade acting career acknowledged is deeply meaningful and inspires me to keep going,” he said.

His career began in 1992 with the television drama Son and Daughter, and his rise to stardom came shortly after with The Last Match. His performance in Friend (2001) helped define the gangster film genre in South Korea, while Tae...

Korean screen icon Jang Dong-gun and acclaimed Chinese actor Tang Wei will be honored with the Excellence in Asian Cinema Award at the upcoming 18th Asian Film Awards.

Jang, a leading figure in the Korean Wave (“Hallyu”) with a career spanning three decades, said: “It is a tremendous honor to receive this award, and I sincerely thank the Asian Film Awards for this recognition. Having my three-decade acting career acknowledged is deeply meaningful and inspires me to keep going.”

The actor, who debuted in 1992 with “Son and Daughter” before skyrocketing to fame with “The Last Match,” reflected on Hong Kong cinema’s influence on his development. “I can’t talk about my growth without mentioning Hong Kong films. The first movie I ever watched in a theatre was Jackie Chan’s ‘Drunken Master,'” Jang said, calling the 1980s “a golden age that still resonates with me today.”

His filmography...

With Korean taking a step back even in that regard, not in terms of quantity, but of quality, this list may initially appear poorer that those of 2023. Soi Cheang took care of that, though, while Hong Kong seems to be back on track in that regard, as apart from “Twilight of the Warriors”, “The Pig, the Snake and the Pigeon” also signaled a return to the Golden Age of Asian action, both due to the quality of action, and the unapologetic, non-pc approach implemented. The same can be said about “The Shadow Strays” from Indonesia and “Moor” from Kazakhstan. Japan continued with the adaptation of anime while going particularly big in terms of production, something that also applies to the entries from China, India and Korea, with the latter also continuing on the “Round Up” path.

Without further ado, here are the 20 best Asian action/martial arts films of 2024, in reverse order,...

Prolific filmmaker Herman Yau is no stranger to Hong Kong cinema who has directed bold films that touched on sensitive themes since the 1990s. Films like the Category III rated “The Untold Story” and “Ebola Syndrome” are famously explicit in violence, sex and gore. Most of all, he tells the real stories of Hong Kong through his raw and complex characters. Nonetheless, Yau would move on to direct big budget action films mostly financed by China like “Shock Wave” (2017), “The White Storm” series and “Moscow Mission” (2023) during the last decade. Filmed in different locations, “Customs Frontline” is such a film.

A young hotshot but principled Chow Ching Lai (Nicholas Tse) works for the Hong Kong Customs Department as an assistant superintendent. Fortunately, he has a sympathetic boss Cheung Wan Nam (Jacky Cheung), a senior superintendent there who gives him guidance throughout his career. One day while on a routine patrol,...

Mel Gibson WWII Film Shelved ( Photo Credit – YouTube )

Mel Gibson teamed up with Bruce Willis and Adrien Brody for a $65 million WWII epic that promised action, drama, and heart—until it all went up in flames. Air Strike, or The Bombing, was supposed to be a cinematic salute to wartime resilience. Instead, it got buried under tax scandals, overblown budgets, and canceled screenings. It was like a blockbuster that self-destructed before even hitting the runway.

The film, directed by Xiao Feng, dove into Chongqing’s courageous stand against nonstop Japanese air raids during the Second Sino-Japanese War. Starring Liu Ye, Nicholas Tse, and even a cameo from Fan Bingbing, it had all the makings of a war drama knockout. The star power was off the charts with Mel Gibson as the production designer. But behind the camera? Chaos.

Production began in May 2015 and wrapped up by November of the same year,...

Martial arts movies have been a staple genre of Western culture since the 1970s. Pioneers like Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan set the standard for epic, fast-paced fight scenes and brought them to the silver screen. Films like Robert Clouse's Enter The Dragon and Yuen Woo-Ping's Drunken Master helped create the world of martial arts cinema that is famous today.

The genre hasn't slowed down since its creation, with many upcoming projects like the long-awaited Karate Kid reboot set to hit screens in 2025. However, certain martial arts movies take themselves more seriously than others. While some plots are centered around character development and realistic fighting applications, other films go the extra mile and focus on downright absurd scenarios. These campy martial arts movies set aside realism and include fighting that is truly ridiculous, but altogether extremely fun to watch.

Dragon Tiger Gate (2006) Clash Of Brothers

Wilson Yip's...

When it comes to action flicks, Jet Li doesn’t pull punches—literally or figuratively. The martial arts legend has one clear reason why Hollywood keeps trading in the real, gritty moves for flashy CGI: not all actors can actually fight. According to Li, authentic martial arts on screen require an actor who can handle real, complex choreography.

Jet Li in The One (2001) | Credits: Hard Eight Pictures

But in a time when special effects can conjure up almost anything, who needs a training montage? CGI might be a shortcut, but it’s missing the spark that only true martial artists bring to the screen.

Jet Li Opens Up About Why Hollywood Shifted from Real Martial Arts to CGI in Action Movies Jackie Chan as Mr. Han in The Karate Kid | Credits: Columbia Pictures

Jet Li didn’t hold back when it came to calling out Hollywood’s shift from real fight scenes to CGI.

Hong Kong’s Customs Department plays a vital role in maintaining security and order along the bustling waterways connecting the city to the rest of the world. Their officers work tirelessly each day, stopping ships, scrutinizing cargo, and keeping a watchful eye for any criminal activity. When one of their routine checks uncovers an illegal arms shipment bound for an escalating war in Africa, it sets two officers on a thrilling mission.

Nicholas Tse stars as Chow, a devoted officer trying to balance his duties with personal struggles. His mentor is the experienced but troubled Cheung, played compellingly by Jackie Cheung.

Under Cheung’s guidance, Chow works to untangle a smuggling ring led by the mysterious Dr. Raw. But this is no ordinary case—the investigation will test the officers’ skills and resolve, plunging them into dangerous undercover operations abroad and uncovering sinister forces much closer to home.

Directing the high-octane action is Herman Yau,...

Despite her evident, indie-approach to filmmaking, Ann Hui always managed to have big names in her movies, something that continues to this day. In that regard, it is no surprise that “Goddess of Mercy”, a movie that includes the extensive flashback approach she later implemented in “The Postmodern Life of My Aunt”, features two such names, in Vicky Zhao and Nicholas Tse.

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The story is based on a novel by Hai Yan, who co-wrote the script with Ivy Ho. The movie starts with the focus on Yang Rui, a Beijing executive and a genuine playboy, who retains a relationship with his boss while sleeping with a number of other women. One day, he meets a woman named He Yanhong who works at a local tae kwon do gym and, impressed by her beauty, proceeds to court her. Just like in his sessions in the gym,...

A scene from Hong Kong action crime film Customs Frontline. Courtesy of Well Go USA Entertainment

In Customs Frontline, Hong Kong delivers plenty of high-octane, large-scale action in this subtitled contemporary cop adventure. The protagonists are the city’s harbor patrol, charged with stopping maritime smuggling. They learn a major international arms dealer that no one in law enforcement has ever seen may be routing heavy-duty weaponry through their waters. The case begins with their boarding an inbound ship with all its crew having been murdered. The retirement benefits for employees in that “industry” seem severely lacking. No union? No perks.

The harbor police teams with reps from Interpol in the pursuit. Our heroes are two guys leading the way. Cheung (Jacky Cheung) is the grizzled veteran. Lai (Nicholas Tse) is his adoring disciple. The story is complex, with scenes occurring in multiple countries, on land and sea, keeping lots of balls in the air,...

The question of when the summer box office season is going to kick into high gear remains unanswered in mainland China – just as it had until recently in plenty of other markets.

Over the latest weekend, Chinese-produced feelgood movie “Moments We Shared” headed the box office chart for a second weekend, but with a significantly weaker performance.

It earned $14.1 million (RMB100 million) between Friday and Sunday, according to data from consultancy firm Artisan Gateway. That compared with $19.9 million a week earlier, when it only played for two days, instead of the usual three. After nine days in cinemas, it has a cumulative of $50.6 million.

The weekend’s highest opener was “Customs Frontline,” a clumsy action-thriller from Hong Kong’s Herman Yau and starring Nicholas Tse and martial arts ace Brahim Chab (aka Brahim Achabbakhe). It earned $10.4 million in its opening three days.

“A Quiet Place: Day One” was a close third.

"In the fires of war, no one is a bystander." Well Go USA has revealed an international teaser trailer for a Hong Kong action thriller film called Customs Frontline, made by filmmaker Herman Yau. This recently premiered at the 2024 Far East Film Festival in Italy, and will open in China & Hk later in June. It's set to arrive in US theaters a few weeks later in July - for anyone who wants to catch this. Hong Kong customs officers discover an illegal weapons cache on a cargo ship and trace them back to an international conflict. Elite agents go undercover, and uncover a dangerous operation with roots closer to home. A container ship appears in Hong Kong waters and the customs officers board to inspect it. The team, which includes hotshot Chow Ching-lai soon discovers the crew dead and a huge pile of weapons, including an extremely valuable compass suitable for piloting a submarine.

Leading Chinese film studio, Alibaba Pictures has announced a slate of seven tentpole movies that it hopes will reinvigorate the mainland China box office.

The titles straddle martial arts, drama, history, sci-fi and comedy and are presented as the first elements of the company’s second five year plan.

They were revealed on Monday at a major event within the ongoing Shanghai International Film Festival and with large numbers of relevant producers, directors and stars in attendance.

“At a time when the film market needs vigor, we need more tentpole productions to keep it working,” said Li Jie, Alibaba Pictures president. In notes provided, the company pointed out that the mainland China box office last year recovered to 85% of its pre-pandemic level and that, so far in 2024, the Chinese box office is the world’s largest.

However, there are worries that recent film industry prosperity may falter. Indeed, 2024 box office...

Alternativa Film Project, the nascent initiative aimed at supporting social impact titles from developing film industries, is to host its second edition in Indonesia with a new festival element to showcase features.

The first edition took place last November in Kazakhstan, launched by US-based tech company inDrive, and wrapped with an awards ceremony that included cash prizes totalling $100,000.

This year, its focus will expand from Central Asia to the fast-growing South East Asian market with the second edition of the Alternativa Film Awards set to be held in Indonesia in late November.

The awards are open to filmmakers from all Asian countries,...

The New York Asian Film Festival (Nyaff) has revealed the features that will compete for this year’s Uncaged Award and that Hong Kong actor Nicholas Tse will receive the Screen International Star Asia Award.

The eight-strong competition for best feature film at the festival, running July 12-28, will include the North American premiere of Thai hit How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies, directed by Pat Boonnitipat.

The film, which ranks as this year’s biggest film at the Thai box office to date, is a family drama that stars popular Thai singer Putthipong Assaratanakul (aka Billkin) as a...

Synopsis

Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department's Chow Ching-Lai (Nicholas Tse) and his boss Cheung Yun-Nam (Jacky Cheung) are like mentor and disciple. In the process of investigating an arms smuggling case, the pair encounter violent attacks from overseas forces and are assigned to participate in a joint Interpol operation involving foreign arms trading. Ching-Lai is fearless and isn't afraid to put his life on the line to track down the truth, but the mystery he uncovers is more difficult for him to accept.

Jeonju Jaunt

Korea’s second largest generalist film event the Jeonju International Film Festival has set eight fiction films by first or second-time feature directors, for its main competition.

They are “Cu Li Never Cries,” by Pham Ngoc Lan; “Junkyard Dog,” by Jean-Baptiste Durand, “La Palisiada,” by Philip Sotnychenko; “My Endless Numbered Days,” by Shaun Neo; “Oxygen Station,” by Ivan Tymchenko; “Practice,” by Laurens Perol; “The Major Tones,” by Ingrid Pokropek; and “The Permanent Picture,” by Laura Ferres.

Additionally, two documentary features also compete: “After the Snowmelt,” directed by Lo Yi-Shan and “Kix,” by Balint Revesz and David Mikulan.

The Covid-pandemic continues to affect filmmaking and festival selection, organizers said. “Even films planned to be made beforehand had to extend their production period due to the pandemic, and many works highlighted the limitations of the production environments, such as smaller cast numbers and minimal locations,” said chief programmer Chun Jinsu.

As Filmart gets underway, Hong Kong’s major production companies, including Edko Films, Emperor Motion Pictures (Emp), Media Asia, One Cool Group and Universe Entertainment, will be unveiling their new titles in enormous booths at the front of the trade show floor, some of which will be as elaborate as film sets.

Many of the films they are launching are big-budget Hong Kong-China co-productions, featuring top Hong Kong stars and directors, and aimed at audiences in both China and Hong Kong. Emp has Derek Kwok’s Raging Havoc, starring Andy Lau and Nicholas Tse; Mandarin Motion Pictures has The Prosecutor, starring and directed by Donnie Yen; and Media Asia is launching four new titles headed by Behind The Scene, produced by Infernal Affairs director Andrew Lau. One Cool’s slate includes a trio of action films starring Louis Koo and produced by Soi Cheang.

But behind all the glamour, stars and action,...

During the early nineties in Hong Kong, the prolific screenwriter, producer, director and sometime actor Wong Jing made quite a number of crowd-pleasing action comedies which was a highly popular genre back then. Although wacky and action packed in nature, his films like “Tricky Brains”, “Royal Tramp”, “Legend of the Liquid Sword”, “Flying Dagger”, “Holy Weapon” and so on were commercially successful productions. Fast forward to 2011 and with a bigger Mainland budget, plus the help of two award-winning actors, Wong ws back and doing pretty much the same old thing. Set in White Horse Town, ancient China, “Treasure Inn” revolves around young Master Kung (Nicholas Tse) and Lo Pa (Nick Cheung), two lowly and underappreciated constables who work in the courthouse kitchen and laundry instead of doing proper investigating duties.

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One day, some thieves break into the Zhang family mansion,...

By 2004, Jackie Chan thought that it was time to reboot the “Police Story” series, which eventually led to the 5th installment in the franchise, with him playing not Chan Ka-kui anymore, but Inspector Chan Kwok-wing. The most important difference with the previous installments, however, is that “New Police Story” is essentially a drama, almost completely leaving the comedic premises of the previous series to the background.

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The movie begins with Inspector Chan being a total mess, completely drunk, with even the taxi drivers avoiding him. Flashback one year earlier, he and his group of young cadets are about to be in a showdown with Joe, the leader of a gang, and his crew of youths who, apart from robbers, are also cop killers. The fight between the two groups ends up in a devastating defeat for the police, with...

Taipei-based sales agency Distribution Workshop has picked up international sales rights to $50M action adventure A Legend, starring Jackie Chan and directed by Stanley Tong.

A sequel to Chan and Tong’s 2005 collaboration The Myth, the film also stars Zhang Yixing (Kung Fu Yoga) and Coulee Nazha (Police Story 2013), and is currently in production with no release date set.

Chan again plays the role of an archaeology expert who this time notices that the texture on the artifacts discovered by his students during a glacier expedition is similar to a jade pendant he had seen in his dreams. Filled with curiosity, he leads the research team on a journey to the Glacier Temple in search of the truth behind the dreams.

Chan’s latest Chinese action drama, Ride On, in which he ironically plays a washed up stuntman, received positive reviews and grossed $30M in China last month. His upcoming...

Winner of the 1999 Golden Horse Award for Best Visual Effects, Andrew Lau's “A Man Called Hero” is a genuine wuxia film, which doubles intensely though, as a drama, in a rather appealing package that also benefits the most by the impressive cast. The movie would be a huge commercial success, amassing more than 23 million Hk dollars upon its release.

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The script is loosely based on the manhua series Chinese Hero: Tales of the Blood Sword by Hong Kong artist Ma Wing-shing and begins in early Republican China. After passing a test, Hero Hua is accepted by Pride, a master swordsman, as his second apprentice. When he returns home, he is horrified to see that his parents have been murdered by foreigners for opposing the opium trade. That night, Hero breaks up the foreigners' party and kills them in revenge.

Jacky Cheung has been absent from the silver screen for a while now, with his last leading role coming in 2016 with “Heaven in the Dark” and his last action film coming a year before that with “Helios”. On the other hand, if there's one thing the late, great Benny Chan's swansong “Raging Fire” did, it rekindled Nicholas Tse's interest in action films. Both Cheung and Tse are back with action and will be seen in Herman Yau's upcoming “Customs Frontline”.

Plot details are still under wraps but the trailer promises an exciting narrative revolving around illegal arms smuggling that promises fists, guns and lots of explosives.

The stacked star-cast also includes Francis Ng, Karena Lam and Cya Liu. No official release date has been announced yet but it can be expected to release in the 2nd half of 2023.

Although Filmart felt quiet on its first morning, with many attendees glued to their phones watching the Oscars, it soon turned into a reasonably vibrant market, with sales companies locked in back-to-back meetings, new project announcements and a few star appearances to liven up proceedings.

With some large country pavilions deciding to skip the event, the trade show floor in the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre had a lot of wide corridors and some empty spaces. But there was enough foot traffic and meetings activity to make it feel like a busy market.

“With two record-breaking Hong Kong films before and the historical Oscar wins during the market, this Filmart had a lot of hopeful energy,” says WME Independent’s Nelson Mok. “We found there were many co-production and financing opportunities that are going to pave the way for meaningful collaborations.”

Sales agents were welcoming the return of in-person...

Some 16 titles were showcased at a packed launch in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong-based Emperor Motion Pictures (Emp) presented a massive line-up of 16 titles at Filmart, including actor Nicholas Tse’s directorial debut New Police Story 2 and a further two action films also led by Tse.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the first New Police Story, which was directed by the late filmmaker Benny Chan. The new feature reunites the original cast, including Tse, Jackie Chan and Charlene Choi, from the original film. Chan will produce for Tse who will direct for the first time.

The film is set to enter production this year,...

World-famous martial arts star Jackie Chan is returning to his Hong Kong roots in news that will have any action junkie positively buzzing with excitement. Longtime fans will hardly need a reminder of Chan's leading role in the "Police Story" trilogy of movies. Made with significant creative influence by Chan (who directed and co-wrote two of the films) from 1985 to 1992, the trilogy follows lead character Chan Ka-Kui, a local cop tasked with assisting in a major undercover sting operation. The franchise was actually rebooted twice with Chan's direct involvement, most notably in 2004 with "New Police Story." That film also starred Chan in the lead role and paired him with immensely popular popstar and actor Nicholas Tse. Now, the two are teaming up once again to deliver a follow-up to that film with "New Police Story 2."

This news comes from The Hollywood Reporter, which states that Chan recently made the official...

When “Naked Killer” starring Chingmy Yau came out in 1992 and became a cult favorite, producer and scripter Wong Jing followed it up with “Naked Weapon” in 2002 ten years later starring Maggie Q. Fast forward another ten years, the prolific filmmaker Wong resurfaced with another installment of his erotic girls-with-guns thriller “Naked Soldier” this time starring Jennifer Tse and Sammo Hung in the lead.

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The film kicks off with Interpol Agent Ck Lung (Sammo Hung) leading his men to a mansion which ends with a huge drug bust and making headlines everywhere. Next up we see him cooking Christmas dinner for his whole family but before they have a chance to eat, a group of gunmen fronted by Madame Rose (Ellen Chan) storms in and shoots at everyone. Lung fights hard with his enemies and gets shot in the chest.

There is something about casino movies that just captures our attention. Maybe it is the glitz and glamour of the Las Vegas strip, or the suspense and excitement of watching someone risk it all on a single hand of blackjack. Maybe it is the appeal that Macau has for Asian gamblers who wish to experience some of the best and most authentic casino experiences possible.

Whatever the reason, casino movies have been a staple of cinema for decades and this does not appear to be changing anytime soon, even if things are a little different nowadays given the advent of the internet and the continued development of technology. For instance, those who live in Pa are able to access the very best Pennsylvania online casinos around if they are unable to get to a traditional establishment or wish to choose from a variety of different games where they are able...

The Asian Film Awards Academy, in collaboration with Bali International Film Festival (Balinale), with the financial support of Create Hong Kong and Film Development Fund, we are honoured to present our flagship film roadshow – Asian Cinerama in Jakarta for the first time. We bring together six Hong Kong films in a variety of genres to showcase the rich and vibrant creativity of contemporary movies produced out of Hong Kong.

The program — Asian Cinerama — Hong Kong Focus — will run from Thursday 15 Sept to Sunday 18 September at Plaza Indonesia Xxi, Jakarta, it will open with Glenn Chan’s directional debut Shadows, a breath-taking psychological thriller features an outstanding ensemble of actors. The film discourses the evil that is subconsciously embedded in our minds the terrifying consequences that ensue when the evil is unleashed. The film has been hailed as ‘one of the best films of the year’. The film’s producer and scriptwriter,...

Action and casino movies are two of the most popular movie genres in the world. And while there are plenty of great action and casino movies from North America and Europe, Asia has its own fair share of excellent films in these genres. In this blog post, we will take a look at some of the best Asian action and casino movies. These films are sure to get your heart racing and your adrenaline pumping!

Why are these films so popular?

There are many reasons why action and casino movies are so popular. For one, they are usually packed with non-stop action and excitement. They often have larger-than-life characters and plots that keep you on the edge of your seat. Additionally, these films usually have amazing production values, with some of the best stunt work and special effects in the business.

With the casino genre, there have been many films...

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The late director Benny Chan, who passed away in 2020, was posthumously awarded the best director prize for his cops-and-robbers actioner Raging Fire at the 40th Hong Kong Film Awards. Actor Andy Lau accepted the award on behalf of Chan’s widow.

Raging Fire also took home the best film, best action choreography and best film editing awards. Its lead Donnie Yen was a producer and one of the action choreographers of the film.

The awards ceremony, held in front of an audience for the first time since the start of the pandemic, was to commend films from both 2020 and 2021 as the ceremony was canceled last year.

The 85-year-old veteran Patrick Tse was crowned best actor for his portrayal of a hitman-turned-noodle maker in black comedy Time. Tse was greeted on stage by a rousing standing ovation. A former matinée idol who was the...

Our Ben Stykuc reviews the epic “Bodyguards and Assassins”, a 2009 Hong Kong historical action film, directed by Teddy Chan, with a stellar cast including Donnie Yen, Wang Xueqi, Tony Leung Ka-fai, Nicholas Tse, Hu Jun, Eric Tsang, Simon Yam, Fan Bingbing, Zhou Yun and Leon Lai.

In 1905, revolutionist Sun Yat-Sen visits Hong Kong to discuss plans with Tongmenghui members to overthrow the Qing dynasty. But when they find out that assassins have been sent to kill him, they assemble a group of protectors to prevent any attacks. (IMDb)...

Hong Kong director Alan Mak has brought together award-winning actors Francis Ng (“Drifting”) and Aaron Kwok in new Hong Kong crime thriller “Insider,” 22-years after the two shared the big screen together.

Produced by Tenky Tin for Emperor Motion Picture, the film also stars Simon Yam and Niki Chow. A start of production ceremony took place on Monday, attended by Emp supremo Albert Yeung. Kwok also uploaded images to his Instagram account. International sales are yet to be announced.

Ng and Kwok last worked together in Gordon Chan-directed action thriller “2000 Ad” (2000).

In “Insider,” Ng plays a police officer, who rubs up against a lawyer played by Kwok. But the two later became friends and collaborators to fight against the antagonist. The filming will involve large amounts of action and gunfight scenes.

The announcement of the new production also marks what could be a sign of recovery of the local film industry,...

Veteran Hong Kong director Herman Yau has assembled a top-notch cast for “War Customised,” a high-octane action thriller that is one of the highest-profile commercial productions to emerge from the territory in the past couple of years.

The cast is headed by Jacky Cheung and Nicholas Tse, along with Karena Lam and Francis Ng.

The supporting cast includes Liu Yase (“Limbo”), Michelle Wai, Angus Yeung (“Raging Fire”), Melvin Wong (“Above the Law”), Ben Yuen, Amanda Strang (“Final Romance”), and Brahim Chab as the villain of the piece.

Production, now underway, is by Emperor Motion Pictures, with principal Albert Yeung named as producer. Emperor is also handling international rights licensing.

The “War Customised” screenplay is by Erica Li. Plot details have been withheld.

In addition to playing the lead, Tse will also act as the film’s action choreographer.

Yau is a veteran of the action, martial arts and comedy genres...

Further titles include Herman Yau’s War Customised and Alan Mak’s Insider.

Hong Kong’s Emperor Motion Pictures (Emp) has unveiled a slate of 12 upcoming films, including a sequel to Zhang Yimou’s box office hit Cliff Walkers and new all-star features from Herman Yau and Alan Mak.

It has also released the first images of Felix Chong’s The Goldfinger, which reunites Infernal Affairs stars Tony Leung and Andy Lau for the first time in nearly 20 years (see below).

The 12 titles, along with two projects in development, equate to an investment of $191.7m (Hk$1.5b), representing the company...

Action thriller “Limbo” was named best film of 2021 at the annual Hong Kong Film Critics’ Society Awards. The film’s female lead, Chinese actress Cya Liu, was crowned best actress for her role as a young addict.

Results of five awards and 10 recommended films were decided on Jan. 16, 2022 after nine hours of deliberation and three rounds of votes. A total of 48 films released in 2021 met the entry criteria for the awards, which is in its 28th edition this year.

Critics said the Cantonese noir “Limbo,” based on the novel of the same name by mainland author Lei Mi, was an “extraordinary work.” It was directed by Soi Cheang.

The grim, crumbling slum that serves as a backdrop for the story revolving around a cop duo’s hunt of a serial killer—just like how an imagined southern Chinese city depicted in the novel—is one metaphor for a “near future,...

“Aided by the star magnetism of Yen and Tse and back in his element on the colorful streets of Hong Kong, Chan goes out with both guns blazing.” ~ G. Allen Johnson, San Francisco Chronicle

An explosive action thriller boasting a powerhouse cast headlined by international martial arts action superstars Donnie Yen and Nicholas Tse (Shaolin, New Police Story), Raging Fire will debut exclusively on the martial arts streaming service Hi-yah! on October 22, before hitting Digital, Blu-ray and DVD November 23 with a new English dub from Well Go USA Entertainment.

A “blistering action/thriller exploring police corruption, violent regret, and all the heroic bloodshed you can handle” and the last film from acclaimed action auteur Benny Chan, Raging Fire co-stars Patrick Tam, Kenny Wong (New Police Story), Deep Ng (Stool Pigeon), Jeana Ho, Angus Yeung, Bruce Tong, Henry Mak (Operation Red Sea), Yu Kang (Ip Man 3), German Cheung (The White Storm 2: Drug Lords...

With adrenaline-pumping action, Nicholas Tse’s vengeful villain cuts an almost tragic figure

The final film from Hong Kong maverick Benny Chan, who sadly died during post-production, this has all the genre pleasures of an old school bad cop v good cop flick. Honest, stoic cop Bong (Donnie Yen) is about to capture a longtime criminal nemesis when, to his horror, a masked gang annihilate his foe along with a dozen other colleagues. Even more shocking, Bong soon discovers that the leader of this savage ambush – spectacularly shot at an abandoned shopping mall – is none other than Ngo (Nicholas Tse), a former comrade-in-arms whom he sent to jail for misconduct.

Straight out of prison and thirsty for blood, Ngo and his band of cops-turned-criminals are itching to settle the score, which leads to some adrenaline-pumping action pieces. The ageless Yen is as mesmerising as ever in these sequences, one of...

Well Go USA has acquired North American rights to the Russian war movie “Infiltration,” the directorial debut of acclaimed actor Alexey Chadov, the company announced at Mipcom this week.

The film centers around Ivan, played by Chadov, who sets off on a dangerous mission into Syria to exfiltrate his ex-commander Grey after his capture by Isis. With the help of U.S. military patrols, he succeeds in freeing Grey and attempts to escape the country while being hunted by terrorists.

“Infiltration,” which launched earlier this year at the Key Buyers Event hosted by Russian film promotion body Roskino, is produced by Academy Award nominee Sergey Selyanov (“Mongol”) through his Ctb Film Company. Sony Pictures will release the film in Russia on Nov. 18, with Well Go planning a 2022 release for North America. Worldwide sales are being handled by Luminescence.

Selyanov said “Infiltration,” which will screen at Rome’s Mia market next week,...

"True action greatness!" Hi-Yah! has released one more official trailer for the "brutally entertaining" Hong Kong action film Raging Fire, which was already released in cinemas in the US a few months back. We've already posted a few trailers for this previously, but with a streaming release on the martial arts channel Hi-Yah! in October, they've dropped off another explosive trailer to enjoy. Donnie Yen stars as Shan, a highly respected hardline cop with a long history of success on dangerous cases. However, his past unexpectedly comes back to haunt him when a sting operation is attacked by a mysterious group of criminals led by Ngo, his former protégé, a talented former officer who had once respected and admired Shan but ended up in prison. Co-starring Nicholas Tse as Ngo, with Jeana Ho, Ray Lui, Patrick Tam, Ben Lam, Deep Ng, and Kang Yu. This honestly might be the best...

Combined box office for all releases was only $24.6m in quiet period ahead of China’s National Day holidays.

As expected, the weekend of September 24-26 was a quiet one at the China box office, with local disaster movie Cloudy Mountain maintaining its lead position with a gross of $10.6m, but combined revenues for all releases only clocking in at $24.6m.

Cloudy Mountain, about a father and son attempting to save a town from a series of natural disasters, opened September 17 and has so far grossed $58.2m, according to figures from theatrical consultancy Artisan Gateway.

However, it will likely be...

The London East Asia Film Festival (Leaff) celebrates its sixth edition in 2021 with a commitment to diverse, culturally impactful cinema entertainment. After a year of shut cinema doors, Leaff is returning home to London’s big screens with an expanded catalogue to help stimulate the renaissance of cinema and promote cultural empathy.

With cinematic offerings from eight regions – China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam – this year’s programme is an ode to the quiet and independent voices from East Asia. Two international premieres, five European premieres and 18 UK premieres will take place at our state-art-of-the-art venues, Odeon Luxe Leicester Square, The Cinema at Selfridges, as well as the newly opened Odeon Luxe West End and The Chiswick Cinema. The festival is divided into five strands: Official Selection, Competition, Hong Kong Focus, Documentary, and Retrospective.

Opening Gala

The festival opens with a memorial to the late Benny Chan...

Hong Kong actor Nicholas Tse, star of the recent Chinese action blockbuster Raging Fire, says he’s giving up his Canadian citizenship amid widespread skepticism in mainland China of local celebrities with foreign nationalities.

Over the weekend, while Raging Fire was climbing to $175 million at the Chinese box office, Tse told a CCTV presenter that he was already in the process of surrendering his Canadian passport. He said he was prompted to make the decision when he noticed a comment on Chinese social media about Raging Fire that “made [his] heart skip a beat,” because it was critically questioning ...

Hong Kong actor Nicholas Tse, star of the recent Chinese action blockbuster Raging Fire, says he’s giving up his Canadian citizenship amid widespread skepticism in mainland China of local celebrities with foreign nationalities.

Over the weekend, while Raging Fire was climbing to $175 million at the Chinese box office, Tse told a CCTV presenter that he was already in the process of surrendering his Canadian passport. He said he was prompted to make the decision when he noticed a comment on Chinese social media about Raging Fire that “made [his] heart skip a beat,” because it was critically questioning ...

Luca took $5.1m in its first three days, while Raging Fire, which opened in July, grossed a further $12.2m.

Disney/Pixar’s Luca grossed $5.1m in its opening three days (August 20-22) at the China box office, according to figures from Artisan Gateway, coming in second while Benny Chan’s Raging Fire stayed on top.

Raging Fire, which opened on July 30, grossed a further $12.2m over its fourth weekend, for a cumulative total of $145.7m. The action picture starring Donnie Yen and Nicolas Tse also opened in Hong Kong, the home of its late director, on August 19.

Piracy may have...

Documentaries about a da Vinci and a dictator, a Pablo Larraín drama with Gael Garcia Bernal, a Donnie Yen martial arts thriller by the late Benny Chan, and Coda — Apple’s record-busting Sundance acquisition — make specialty bows this weekend as the arthouse sector fights through a slow reopening.

“The market is still finding a balance right now,” said Kyle Westphal, theatrical sales manager for Music Box Films (and programming associate for Chicago’s Music Box Theatre). The distributor debuts Larraín’s Ema in 11 theaters in nine markets with plans to expand thereafter — to maybe another 20, but it’s hard to say. “The normal [criteria] like what’s your opening per-screen average right now, those are all upside down,” Westphal tells Deadline.

He said a strong perf by Anthony Bourdain doc Roadrunner (Focus Features) and The Green Knight (A24) “doing as well as it has over the past few weeks, are good signs.

Donnie Yen in Raging Fire. Photo courtesy of Well Go USA

Raging Fire is a contemporary Hong Kong Chinese martial arts crime flick that’s a perfect vehicle for its two male leads – Donnie Yen and Nicholas Tse. Yen plays the good cop. Tse is his former good-cop buddy, who has become really good at being really bad for reasons we learn along the way. Many of these films are thrown together with a muddled plot that exists only to set up their action sequences. Here we have a shining exception, as main characters and their backstories are fleshed out to fine advantage, making for a production that satisfies the brain as well as fulfilling the desired adrenaline quota.

Yen has nearly 80 acting credits and handful of directing stints, including fight-scene choreography. He comes by his art honestly, as the son of a martial arts master, trained from childhood in multiple disciplines.