New Chinese Cinema

Lai Man-wai: Father of Hong Kong Cinema

January 2002 •

In the life of Mr. Lai Man-wai, he had seen the most turbulent times of recent Chinese history. From the fall of the Qing Dynasty to the founding of the Republic, from the Sino-Japanese War to the founding of the People’s Republic. With a patriotic spirit, he joined the revolution and used the theatre to promote the revolutionary course. For a ‘stronger China’, and ‘education for all’, he chose film as his life long goal and career. Lai was more than the father of Hong Kong cinema was; he was also one of the pioneers of the Chinese cinema. He made Hong Kong’s first short fiction film ‘Zhuangzi Tests His Wife’. He opened the first Chinese owned cinema, the New World Cinema, in Hong Kong…. In the several decades, Lai had devoted his life and fortune in writing this glorious inaugural chapter in early Chinese film history. The technical enhancement, the introduction of foreign techniques and equipment were all part of his contribution to the Chinese cinema.

Yang ± Yin: Gender in Chinese Cinema

June 1998 •

An exploration of Chinese cinema and its relationships with gender and sexuality, which the film argues has been more frankly and provocatively explored than in any other national cinema. Utilizing both film excerpts and interviews with many leading directors and academics, the film examines topics such as male bonding in kung fu movies, depictions of same-sex bonding and physical intimacy, the emphasis on women's grievances in melodramas, and the career of Yam Kim-Fai, a Hong Kong actress who spent her life portraying men on and off the screen.

Le réveil des ombres

November 2016 •French

Documentary about new chinese cinema.

An Amorous History of the Silver Screen

February 1931 •Chinese

Part two of A comedy film set on Shanghai film studio. The background events frequently involve the shooting of other films being made at Mingxing Film Company at the time. This includes a sequence of the 17th episode of the silent wuxia film series Burning of the Red Lotus Temple, which is the only known footage from this historic series to exist.

The Sniper

March 2009 •

A police sniper teams up with a hot-headed rookie to take down his former friend and teammate, who is exacting revenge on the police force.

The Secret of the Magic Gourd

January 1963 •Chinese

Based on the beloved children's book, elementary schooler Wang Bao discovers a wish-granting gourd that gives him the ability to make his dreams come true. Due to the gourd's erratic nature, Wang Bao confronts his own dishonesty amongst his peers and family, and realizes that you might not get everything you wish for.

Cat in the Eastern Palace

September 2020 •Chinese

Su Jin meets Li'er. As their bond grows, the weight of Su Jin being the crowned prince and Li'er as a cat spirit grows heavy.

Apartamento 62

September 2024 •Portuguese

Oleg's Choice

January 2016 •English

Fighting in eastern Ukraine broke out in early 2014. Since the summer, thousands of young Russians, driven by television propaganda and a thirst for adventure, began to pour in. Among these volunteers were Oleg and Max. Oleg became a battalion commander and Max remained an ordinary soldier. While they prepare to fight, they discuss their motivations and share their own perspective on the conflict. The image becomes a unique personal testimony of one side of the war, one rarely seen in the western media.

The Hunt for the Camden Ripper

January 2004 •English

The discovery of human body parts behind a pub in Camden over Christmas 2002 triggered one of the Metropolitan Police's largest man hunts and shocked the nation. The revelations that followed, about a man's brutal murder of three London women shocked a nation. But the story of the search for Anthony Hardy also revealed some painful truths about the anonymity of a city, and the complex challenges facing mental health units charged with protecting both the public and their patients.

Sounds of Memphis

February 2002 •English

A look into the birth of the soul music scene on Beale Street in Memphis, Tennessee. Chronicles the rise of soul music, the creation of many iconic songs, and the effect that the genre would have on generations to come. Featuring interviews with B.B. King, Isaac Hayes, Steve Copper, and many other legendary artists.

Troubled Waters

January 1993 •English

The Rivers of Africa shape the lives of those who call their banks home- in the African wilderness there can be no life without water. The continents rivers are the focal point of the dramas of the bushveld- the same river that gives life also harbours death. For the many creatures that live along Africa's rivers - the need to quench their thirst is an essential part of their lives- but rivers such as the Mara in Kenya are a barrier for animals where death comes in many guises- but each animal has their own way of navigating these treacherous waters.

The Return of the Kings

January 1999 •English

JV and Gillian are given the task of reintroducing three magnificent cheetahs- two of which are the rare King Cheetah- back into their natural surroundings. JV and Gillian document and share their story as they follow the lives of the three cub's journey from cub to adulthood in the Tswalu reserve. We follow all the trials and tribulations as the young cubs navigate their new world and learn to survive in their desert home. Filled with hope and heartbreak it's a gripping tale in which we witness the extraordinary return of the Kings.

Super Hunts, Super Hunters

January 1995 •English

Lions, leopard, cheetah, hyena, wild dog and crocodile - extraordinary scenes of super predators hunting. The Super Predators was filmed over three years at Londolozi Game Reserve in South Africa and on Kenya's Masai Mara. It captures some of the most extraordinary scenes ever seen on film of these super predators hunting and killing. Dramatic slow-motion action replays allow the viewer the opportunity of observing all the subtleties of these magnificent hunters in action. The film includes a plea for the world's most notorious predator, man, to work in closer partnership with nature for our mutual benefit and survival.

Spirit of the Mountains

April 2023 •Hindi

The charismatic Snow Leopard is the least understood of all the big cats and one of the most challenging to film. Over a period of five years, veteran Indian wildlife filmmakers, Naresh and Rajesh Bedi endured extreme cold and the thin air of the Himalayas in their daunting quest to reveal the secret lives of these elusive predators, ultimately with great success.

Sindoan

June 2008 •Korean

Black Out

January 2009 •Korean

Filming “The Hunted”

August 2003 •English

Behind the scenes of The Hunted.

Pursuing “The Hunted”

August 2003 •English

Behind the scenes of The Hunted.

The Cutting Edge

August 2003 •English

Behind the scenes of The Hunted.