Director Tsui Hark began working on a new film with collaboration with screen writer Anthony McCarten (films:  Bohemian Rhapsody, The Theory of Everything) to develop a new film based on the life of one of the most notorious woman pirate Shih Yang, who commanded a fleet of 1800 pirate ships and terrorized the South China Sea in the 1800s.

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The documentary film "Pai Niang Niang: The Last Osmanthus Blossom" 《白孃孃：一朶遲桂花》will be screened for free at the University of California, Irvine (UC Irvine) on May 29th, following its premiere at the Asian Pop Up Cinema.

Director Isabel Wong will personally attend the post-screening discussion! 

Rebecca Pan is an icon of the Hong Kong music world and one of the city's earliest boundary-pushing cultural pioneers. Her early career as a singer and her later success as an actress is well-known, but arguably the most important milestone of her oeuvre—the first ever Chinese-language musical, Pai Niang Niang (1972)—was thought to have not been captured on film and faded into obscurity. This work used the Broadway musical model to adapt the famous Chinese myth Legend of the White Snake. Bringing together Eastern and Western theatrical styles, the musical combined Chinese traditional music, dance, costume, and stage design with modern Western concepts. Despite this bold attempt, the work was ahead of its Ome and was not a commercial success.

Regarding music, Joseph Koo, who had returned from study abroad that year, was invited to participate in music creation. His contribution also led to the cooperation between Joseph Koo and James Wong, and they wrote their first piece, "If Loving You Means Hurting You." In April 2023, however, a partial film record of the performance was miraculously discovered. The restored surviving footage has become the finale of this documentary film, "Pai Niang Niang: The Last Osmanthus Blossom," bringing the saga to a flawless conclusion.

Free tickets and more information are available here: Free tickets & Information

Host: HKOS (Hong Kong On Screen)
Producer：Artcanteen 藝術糧倉
Acknowledgements： Rebecca Pan Productions 、One Cool Film Productions Ltd

In pre-production with collaboration is Director Tsui Hark and screen writer Anthony McCarten (writer for Bohemian Rhapsody and The Theory of Everything) the new film about China's greatest female pirate Shih Yang (aka Cheng I Sao) who dominated the South China Sea during the Qing Dynasty.

Born into poverty, she worked on a "flower boat" brothel where she met the notorious pirate leader Cheng Yi, joining him at sea. Upon his death in 1807, she assumed full command of the fearsome Red Flag Fleet, commanding over 1,800 pirate ships and an estimated 80,000 pirates. By comparison, Blackbeard commanded four ships and 300 pirates within the same century. Shih instigated sweeping reforms to the rules of piracy, ordering execution for rape or marital infidelity and insisting on equality between the sexes. Much of what is known in the West about her is due to the writings of an English diarist, Richard Glasspoole, who was captured by her and later formed a strong bond with her.

Get the book to read the full real story of Shih Yang: The Flower Boat Girl

Captain Richard Glasspoole who was captured by Shih Yang and the two ended up getting close. Captain Glasspoole wrote a short book (17 pages) about his captivity and working with the pirates, you can get his book here: Captain Richard Glasspoole's account

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For its 10th edition, the Saudi Film Festival returns as a distinguished annual cultural event. Hosted by the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra), organized by the Saudi Cinema Association and supported by the Film Commission of the Ministry of Culture, the festival puts Saudi literary and cultural contributions to the film industry, filmmakers and talent from the Kingdom's cinema sector once again in the spotlight.

This edition of the festival has much to offer, including competitions that aim to develop the quality of screenplays and films. The festival is now expanding the scope of film screening programs to include a broader range of Arab and international productions as it serves as a platform for production companies, producers and filmmakers to support their projects in the production market. The festival programming now includes a wide array of enriching programs such as seminars and intensive workshops to elevate the Saudi filmmaking sector. Additionally, a selection of books will be translated and published as part of a series that aims to enrich the Arab library in the genres of filmmaking and cinema literature.

Please also visit the Official Website for more information

In our continued work to create spaces for expression, engagement, and empowerment, Visual Communications is proud to present the 40th edition of the VC FILM FEST (Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival) from May 1 to May 10, 2024. The Festival will feature a robust lineup of in-person programming, along with virtual programming for our audiences at home in Southern California and beyond.

Since 1983, the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival has presented over 5,000 films, videos, and digital mediaworks by Asian & Pacific Islander artists, and features seminars, panels, in-person guest appearances, and filmmaker awards. The Film Festival continues to be the largest festival of its kind in Southern California and is the premier showcase for the best and brightest of Asian Pacific cinema.

The VC Film Festival is a proud Academy Award®-qualifying film festival for Short Film Awards. Recipient(s) of the Film Festival's Golden Reel Award for Narrative/Animated Short Film will be eligible to submit in the Animated Short Film/Live-Action Short Film category of the Academy Awards

Please also visit the Official Website of the festival

UK Asian Film Festival (Tongues on Fire) is synonymous for championing South Asian feminist films and supporting pioneering artists and auteurs. The organisation was conceived of by Dr. Pushpinder Chowdhry MBE and Mrs Harvinder Nath, who both recognised the impact that films can have on society, particularly when tackling complex and challenging issues. Opening doors and providing a platform for emerging talent, independent film and arts with a link to South Asia.

All our activities are brought together by common values and a shared approach. We create and present high-quality activities that promotes the authentic voice of South Asian communities and reflects a genuine sense of place.

Some of our key aims include:
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- Bridging art, culture, health, and technology to herald the challenges of a world in motion
- Dismantling inequalities in the creative industries to readdress the balance
- Breaking barriers, taboos in South Asian communities and encourage open discussion
- Empowering the next generation through masterclasses and showcases
- Pioneering networking occasions to develop leaders and provide wider learning opportunities

Please also visit the Official Website for more information

Crossing lines, defying boundaries, and continuing to take on new challenges is the identity of the JEONJU International Film Festival. JEONJU IFF has constantly made efforts to expand the realm of film as an art form based on new methods of expression and borderless imagination. This year's slogan, "Beyond the Frame", continuing from last year, highlights the pioneering spirit of the festival, which has been breaking away from conventional film formats and screening methods to achieve cross-genre integration centered on film through programs, venues and festival events.

Please also visit the Official Website of the Jeonju International Film Festival

The Busan International Short Film Festival (BISFF)—Korea's most dynamic festival and a hub for Korean and international short films—is growing both domestically and internationally. As the festival celebrates its 41st anniversary, it looks forward to a brighter future spurred on by its past accomplishments. Whether independent and art films or commercial films thrive or decline, short films, the foundation of all cinematic endeavors, must exist as the core and base of cinema. Without the development of short films, which constitute cinema's past, present, and future, there will be no future for Korean cinema.

This year's BISFF identifies distinctive and artistically valuable short films created internationally and domestically through the International Competition, the Korean Competition, and Operation Kino. This year, "Cinema & Reality" is the festival's theme, which aims to explore whether films can connect with audiences in a continuously changing reality and whether films can offer a means of examining reality from an alternative angle.

Italy is the guest country for this year's BISFF. The Guest Country section will highlight Italian short films that have garnered significant public and critical attention recently. These short films offer an intimate approach to reality and experimentation with new cinematic language, demonstrating that Italian cinema strives to create new films and doesn't dwell on past glory.

Furthermore, the festival features distinctive films that explore a wide spectrum of cinematic possibilities, both artistically and technically. The Prism section showcases experimental films, 3D films, interactive films, and XR films. This section allows viewers to witness how the festival continues to innovate and explore new cinematic language. Furthermore, the Korean Shorts and the Hub of Asia sections showcase short films with complex narratives and a keen awareness of societal issues, highlighting a limitless cinematic potential. In addition, we have prepared various screenings and accompanying events, such as Curtain Call, where you can view the best short films from the world's top four film festivals, and roundtable discussions delving into film education beyond the institutional framework.

The 41st BISFF offers a wide range of programs for Korean and international audiences who are eager to rediscover cinema while sitting in a dark theater with strangers, especially at a time when cinema and theaters feel neglected. Your support and interest in the festival is greatly appreciated.
Thank you.

Please visit the Official Website for more information

After the long lasting writers and actors strike in Hollywood, the Canadian Writers Guild has also already voted to go on strike if they don't come to an agreement with the Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA). The writers guild already had an over 96% vote in favor for a strike if no resolutions are reached.

How this affects films and shows

Many shows and films are being produced in Canada therefore it could again affect shows viewed all around the world. Many shows and films produced by Hollywood also have parts of them created and filmed in Canada therefore those would also be affected.

The Canadian Writers - that consist 2500 members - asks for fair compensation for their work and set these forth in further contracts. One of the biggest threats for writers is AI and AI produced stories. The CMPA agrees that stories and scripts should be created by humans and not computers.

The U.S. writers strike lasted for 148 days, if the Canadian strikes also goes on for similar length of time, it will again affect the film and TV industry significantly.

More information can be obtained at the Official Website of the Writers Guild of Canada.

 The Cannes Film Festival has unveiled new additions to the Official Selection for its upcoming 77th edition from May 14 to May 25. Three new films have been added to the Competition lineup: Oscar-winning director Michel Hazanavicius' animated feature The Most Precious of Cargoes, Iranian director Mohammad Rasoulof's Seed of the Sacred Fig and Emanuel Parvu's Three Miles to the End of the World.

The Artist skyrocketed Hazanavicius to international fame in 2011 as the film won best picture at the Academy Awards, and received 10 Oscar nominations and five wins. Hazanavicius for his latest film adapted the Second World War novel of the same title by Jean-Claude Grumberg that is set against the events of the Holocaust and told with magical realism.

Rasoulof is not expected to attend his Cannes premiere as the director a year ago was barred by Iranian authorities from leaving the country to attend the Cannes Film Festival to serve on the Un Certain Regard jury. In addition, a film adaptation of the classic novel The Count of Monte Cristo by directors Alexandre De La Patelliere and Matthieu Delaporte, and starring Pierre Niney, will debut out of competition in Cannes.

The French festival has also announced special screenings for Oliver Stone's Lula, a documentary about Brazilian leader Lula da Silva; Arnaud Desplechin's Spectators; Lou Ye's An Unfinished Film; and Tudor Giurgiu's Nasty. And in the Cannes Premiere sidebar, the festival has added Gael Morel's Vivre, Mourir, Renaitre and Jessica Palud's Maria.

Cannes also announced that When the Light Breaks, by director Rúnar Rúnarsson, will open the Un Certain Regard section on May 15, while Céline Sallette's debut feature Niki and Gints Zilbalodis' Flow have been added to that section.

The 77th Cannes Festival kicks off May 14 with Quentin Dupieux's The Second Act starring Léa Seydoux and Vincent Lindon. It runs through May 24.

Please also visit the Official Website of the Cannes Film Festival for more information.