Closing Gala: May You Stay Forever Young 少年
:: UK PREMIERE ::
Hong Kong / 2021 / Colour + B&W / 86 mins
In Cantonese with Chinese and English subtitles
Dir. Rex REN, Sam LAM
THIS TITLE IS SUITABLE ONLY FOR 15 YEARS AND OVER
LONDON
2022 / 03 / 27 (Sun) - 3:50 PM
** Post-screening Q&A with the directors via live-streaming
Genesis Cinema, London
2022 / 03 / 27 (Sun) - 5:30 PM
** Post-screening Q&A with the directors via live-streaming
PictureHouse Ritzy, London
2022 / 03 / 27 (Sun) - 6:30 PM
** Post-screening Q&A with the directors via live-streaming
Genesis Cinema, London
MANCHESTER
2022 / 03 / 31 (THU) - 5:30 PM
Everyman Manchester, Manchster
BRISTOL
2022 / 04 / 01 (FRI) - 6:00 PM
* Pre-recorded post-screening Q&A with the directors
Watershed, Bristol
EDINBURGH
Part of “Towards Freedom” programme co-hosting with Taiwan Film Festival Edinburgh, showcasing with Revolution of Our Times and
The Price of Democracy 狂飆一夢 (2019)
2022 / 04 / 01 (FRI) - 5:00 PM
* Pre-recorded post-screening Q&A with the directors
SummerHall, Edinburgh
After a young Anti-Extradition Law protester announces she will commit suicide on social media, a group of fellow protestors must race against time to find her before it is too late.
In June 2019, a series of massive demonstrations against the Hong Kong government’s attempt to revise and pass the Extradition Law led to a chain of suicides by young protesters to validate their opposition. The story takes place on 28th July, a week after the white mob attack in Yuen Long. YY, a 17-year-old girl, announced her attempt to end her life on Instagram. After that, she couldn’t be contacted or located. Nam, the 20-year-old “comrade” she met after a protest-related arrest, and amongst others, frantically searched for her around Kwai Tsing district where she lived. Her photo and other information were posted on Telegram and LIHKG Forum, resulting in hundreds of volunteers joining the search. It’s a run against time. emotionally exhausting hunt, she was finally located in Mongkok, the busiest area populated by young people. Meanwhile, on the island side, protesters are confronting the fully armed riot police. Yet, it becomes a dilemma for those who are still searching for YY.
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Rex REN
Rex graduated from the School of Film & Television at Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, majoring in Directing. He won the Best Director Award with Even Ants Strife for Survival at the 12th Fresh Wave International Short Film Competition and Gold Award at the 23rd Hong Kong Independent Short Film and Video Awards. He was Fruit CHAN’s scriptwriter and assistant director before working for Andy LAU’s Infinitus Films as Creative Team Supervisor. In 2018, he won the grand prize with A Life of Papers at the Golden Horse Film Project Promotion meeting. He is also the founder of Equal Write Union Hong Kong.LAM Sum
Born in Hong Kong. Lam is an independent short film and documentary filmmaker who graduated from the School of Film and TV, Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, specialising in directing. Lam is also a social movement activist and his works mostly focus on social issues. Lam is also a video freelancer and a film production tutor in several schools and colleges. -
To many foreigners, Hong Kong always looks like a city that enjoys free thinking and a style of life. In fact, we always live under all kinds of suppression and oppression. The anti-Extradition Law protests that erupted since June 2019 are, in fact, an explosion of such discontent. Many young people joined the protests out of despair. Committing suicide is the cry of such despair. YY, the 17-year-old girl who wants to end her life in the film may just be one out of 7 million. Yet it’s one precious young life. May You Stay Forever Young is a film about such a life.
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NETPAC (Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema) Award — The 58th Golden Horse Awards 2021
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Best New Director — The 58th Golden Horse Awards 2021
Best Film Editing — The 58th Golden Horse Awards 2021
FIPRESCI Selected Film — The 58th Golden Horse Awards 2021
