This film festival’s screened works mainly takes Asian and Asian communities as theme, which is different from the works participated in previous films festivals that are mostly based on Europe and America. The participation of screening in this film festival represents our premiere outside of Asia region, I am honored to be able to share our ideas with local American audiences and people in the industry. The audiences are very interested in issues related to Hong Kong-mainland conflicts and generation conflicts explored in the film, they react actively in understanding Hong Kong’s recent situation and development of film industry after the screening. The themes of works selected in this film festivals are extremely diversified, including commercial films, feature short films, documentaries, VR short films, and also student works. There are definitely some differences in the quality of films, especially in the unit of short films, the skills of some students’ works are apparently less mature, yet overall the films’ quality is quite good. In the film festival I have appreciated many outstanding short and long films works, and further acknowledge the lives of North American Asian community, that greatly broadened my international horizons. Most of the local audiences still target for screened long films, yet the film festival has set up several short film programs and short film training plan for secondary school students, and their products are screened in the film festivals as well. Although the number of visitors is not as much as expected, I am happy seeing the proactive exchanges between audiences and their concern on Hong Kong’s recent situation. Much gratitude to Hong Kong Short Film New Action Express which provides local creators a chance to exchange overseas, so that I could have the opportunity in interconnecting and communicating with local audiences personally. I will and must cherish every opportunity to participate each country’s film festivals as a Hong Kong representative.






— Shared by Lui Yee-pan Ian, the director of The Hongkongers after attending San Diego Asian Film Festival 2019 in the United States, under the sponsorship of NAE.