The Hong Kong Studies Initiative (HKSI) Newsletter

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01 October 2025

Hosted by the Department of Asian Studies, the Hong Kong Studies Initiative (HKSI) at the University of British Columbia is devoted to promoting the teaching and research of this most-improbable metropolis, both as an extraordinary Chinese city and as a spectacular international and transnational hub.

FEATURED EVENT

Meet the Filmmaker
In Conversation with “Finch & Midland” Director Timothy Yeung 楊永光, Producer Ridley Tsui 徐寶華 & Actor Jaden Kwan 關家悅

Date: 5 October 2025 (Sunday)
Time: 1:00pm - 2:30pm
Venue: Auditorium, Asian Center, UBC, Vancouver
Address: 1871 West Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z2 | Map | Parking

Set in Toronto’s Finch and Midland neighbourhood, Finch & Midland 今天應該很高興 follows four immigrants navigating fractured family ties, career challenges, and the search for love and belonging. Each story showcases not only the character’s sacrifice and struggle, but also highlights the hope and resilience that have played a big part in the decision to stay in Canada.

Directed by Timothy Yeung 楊永光 and produced by Ridley Tsui 徐寶華, Finch & Midland, starring Anthony Wong 黃秋生, Theresa Lee 李綺虹, Patrick Tam 譚耀文, Nina Paw 鮑起靜, Harriet Yeung 楊詩敏 and Jaden Kwan 關家悅, will have its world premiere at the Vancouver International Film Festival 2025.

In this meet the filmmaker event at UBC, Director Timothy Yeung and Producer Ridley Tsui will share behind the scene stories about the making of Finch & Midland that is shot entirely in Toronto, as well as their personal experience contributing to the creation of the four immigrant characters and their stories. The conversation will also be joined by Actor Jaden Kwan who will talk about the reenactment of migratory experience and the psychology of the character he portrays.

Together with the audience, the event will explore the theme of diaspora, generation, and identity.

Speakers in focus:

Director Timothy Yeung is a Canadian-born Chinese filmmaker and a graduate of The New York University Tisch School of the Arts – Asia. Finch & Midland is his debut feature-length drama film.
Producer Ridley Tsui is a veteran stuntman, martial arts choreographer, actor, and director who has over three decades of film industry experience in Hong Kong and Hollywood.
Jaden Kwan is a newcomer actor. His first experience in front of the camera was on the popular Syfy series “Chucky”.

Sharing in English. Audience Q&A in English and Cantonese.

Open to all. Free admission. Seats limited. Registration required.

IN THE COMMUNITY

Vancouver International Film Festival 2025

The 44th Vancouver International Film Festival runs October 2 – 12, 2025. Spanning 172 features, 97 shorts, 128+ premieres, VIFF2025 brings together films, live performances, industry talks, and interactive experiences to connect audiences with bold stories and visionary creators from around the world.

Film in focus

今天應該很高興 Finch & Midland
Canada | Cantonese, Mandarin, English | 105 minutes | 2024
VIFF2025 Screening Schedule: Oct 5 | Oct 6

Dan (Patrick Tam), a washed-up Hong Kong singer, has one last chance to reconnect with his estranged daughter before she leaves with her mother and stepfather. But can he swallow his pride before it’s too late?

Fan (Theresa Lee) works tirelessly—a grocery store by day, a massage parlour by night—clinging to her dream of becoming a real estate agent to give her daughter a better life. But when she finally makes it, she’s left wondering: has anything really changed?

Eva (Harriet Yeung), yearning for love, flirts with a pizza boy and dives into dating apps, all while caring for her aging mother (Nina Paw), who only favors her absentee son. After heartbreak and a cruel scam, she fears dying alone.

Tony (Anthony Wong), a proud model minority, thought he had broken the glass ceiling—until he’s suddenly fired. Lost and humiliated, he bonds with a teenager (Jaden Kwan) who sneaks into his home. As they share a joint, Tony finally speaks the words he’s buried for years.

Four lost souls, longing for connection. But the closer they reach for it, the further it slips away.

MAKE A GIFT

Support the HKSI Programming Fund

Your generosity and support expands our capacity, fuels our momentum, and helps the study of Hong Kong’s culture, history and voices in Canada. Please consider making a gift to the HKSI Program Fund to further support our teaching activities, events, and community programs into the future.

PAST EVENTS

Two Evenings with Ann Hui

September 16 and 18: Award-winning filmmaker Ann Hui 許鞍華 presented two of her masterworks, Boat People 投奔怒海 (1982) and Song of Exile 客途秋恨 (1990), in person at The Cinematheque, in an event organized by The Cinematheque, the Chinese Canadian Museum, and the SFU Department of World Languages and Literatures, supported by the UBC Hong Kong Studies Initiative and the Asian Independent Cinema Showcase.

The first evening was introduced by Shaun Inouye, Artistic Director of The Cinematheque, followed by a pre-screening talkback session with Director Ann Hui hosted by Dr. Melissa Karmen Lee, CEO of the Chinese Canadian Museum.

On the second evening, following the screening Director Ann Hui generously shared many stories behind the scene in a conversation moderated by Dr. Helena Wu.

Film Screening of I’ve Got the Blues and Conversation with Director Angie Chen

September 20: UBC Hong Kong Studies Initiative and the Asian Independent Cinema Showcase hosted a screening of TI've Got the Blues 水底行走的人, an award-winning documentary film made by Director Angie Chen 陳安琪. The event drew close to 100 attendees to UBC campus, with Director Chen sharing her experience of making the film in an in-person discussion moderated by HKSI convenor Dr. Helena Wu. (photos).

Please kindly consider a tax-deductible donation to HKSI (support.ubc.ca/hksi). Thank you, as always, for your support of the UBC Hong Kong Studies Initiative.