Forum: Hongkonger Diaspora Studies

9–10 August 2024

In this two-day academic forum, academics from different disciplines based in Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States, Taiwan, and Hong Kong gathered in UBC to present their wide-ranging research as well as to showcase the diversity of their theoretical, empirical, and methodological interests in conducting diaspora studies (photos).

理論香港廣東話研討會2024: 崩口人忌崩口碗
Theory Hong Kong 2024: Conference in Cantonese

13–14 December 2024

Co-organized by the Hong Kong Studies Programme of the University of Hong Kong and the UBC HKSI, the second edition of the Theory Hong Kong Conference featured 12 academic presentations in Cantonese, which explored theoretical engagement and a number of cultural topics, ranging from cinema, literature, animal rights, language, and performance. Dr. Laikwan Pang (Chinese University of Hong Kong) delivered an insightful keynote speech on border-crossing and the Cantonese language (photos).

During the 2024/2025 academic year, the UBC HKSI hosted nine events, ranging from film screening, poetry reading, artist's sharing, public conversation, to academic lecture, to promote knowledge exchange between academics, cultural practitioners, and the public.

Let’s Get Together Sometime: Hong Kong Cinema and Adaptation (1914-2024)

19 September 2024

In a public lecture held in UBC Library, Dr. Mary Shuk Han Wong (Lingnan University Hong Kong) talked about the development of Hong Kong cinema and adaptation from 1914 to 2024 (photos).

邊走邊唱: 與黃耀明對話 Song of the Wanderers: A Conversation With Anthony Wong

25 October 2024

Co-organized by the UBC HKSI and the Cantonese Language Program, singer-songwriter Anthony Wong shared reflections on his cultural experience and musical journey and talked about the creative and the affective power of art with the audience in Vancouver (photos).

In Conversation with Director Adam Wong

28 July 2025

In a visit organized by the UBC HKSI and iLLUME Films, director and scriptwriter Adam Sau-Ping Wong talked about his filmmaking career and the making of his latest work The Way We Talk (2024), which explores Deaf community and identity, in an in-person conversation moderated by HKSI Convenor Dr. Helena Wu (photos).

The Asian Independent Cinema Showcase (AICS) is a UBC-based film festival that aims to foster a film appreciation community within and beyond the university, cultivate media literacy and cross-cultural understanding, and give voices to independent stories told by Asian filmmakers.

The AICS is co-convened and co-curated by HKSI Convenor Dr. Helena Wu, and Jimmy Lo (UBC alum, MFA in Film Production ’24), an award-winning filmmaker and Assistant Professor at MacEwan University, where he teaches film/video production.

In the theme of fluid identities, the 2025 program presented two feature-length films and five short films, made by eight filmmakers from Hong Kong, Macau, South Korea, and Taiwan. The four screening and conversation events were attended by over 530 audience members.

Vancouver Premiere of Kissing The Ground You Walked On And Conversation with Director Hong Heng-Fai

6 February 2025

With the support from UBC Community Engagement, the Vancouver premiere of Kissing The Ground You Walked On received an overwhelming turnout at UBC Robson Square. In the post-screening conversation moderated by AICS co-curators Jimmy Lo and Dr. Helena Wu, Director Hong Heng-Fai shared his creative process and indie filmmaking experience in Macau (photos).

In Search of Light: Hong Kong x Taiwan Documentary Short Films

6 May 2025

Co-presented by the UBC AICS and TFAI x Taiwan Docs, the screening of two critically-acclaimed documentaries "Cyclone" and "Colour Ideology Sampling.mov" demonstrated different approaches to indie documentary filmmaking. The post-screening conversation with the three directors MT, Kathy Chan, and Cheuk-Sze Chan was facilitated by Jimmy Lo and Dr. Helena Wu.

During the 2024/2025 academic year, the HKSI collaborated with various community partners in Vancouver in the planning and the organization of the following five events of diverse themes and formats. From dialogues with artists, film screenings, to performance, we build bridges between the university and the community in Canada and beyond.

Disrupt The System Through Language In Music

9 November 2024

As part of the Jade Music Festival 2024, this panel talk featured Serrini from Hong Kong and Enno Cheng from Taiwan, two innovative artists who are pushing boundaries in the music industry. In the discussion moderated by Dr. Helena Wu, the two artists shared how their unique linguistic styles and storytelling techniques turned music as a powerful medium for change.

Clara Law: Drifting Petals, Floating Lives

16 January – 5 February 2025

Presented by the UBC AICS and The Cinematheque, this retrospective surveyed the remarkable, decades-spanning oeuvre of Clara Law, which was curated in concert with the director and Eddie Fong. Law and Fong joined six virtual conversations with the Vancouver audience that were moderated by Shaun Inoue, the Cinematheque's creative director, and Dr. Helena Wu (photos).

Book Exhibition x Community Talk: From Hong Kong to the World Through the Eyes of Artists

26 April 2025

The UBC HKSI and the Vancouver Hong Kong Society Forum co-presented a book exhibition and a community talk on UBC main campus. In the public conversation moderated by Dr. Helena Wu, four artists and cultural practitioners from Hong Kong–musician handwash, actor Debby Leung, filmmaker Jimmy Lo, and multimedia artist Ho Tam—shared their creative journeys in Canada, from challenges to inspirations (photos).

Documentary Screening of Fallen Treasures and Director's Talk

17 May 2025

Co-presented by the UBC AICS, HK House, and Vancouver Hong Kong Fair, the film screening of Fallen Treasures took place in Vancouver's Cinematheque. The post-screening conversation with Director Elyse Ky Hon was moderated by Jimmy Lo and Dr. Helena Wu, offering reflection on urban development and the challenges facing heritage and tradition.

From Old Bean Grows Bok Choy: A Solo Performance by Chan’s Applied Theatre Lab

29 June 2025

Organized by Wovenland and supported by the UBC HKSI and 852kitchen, the performance drew from scholar-practitioner Dr. Phoebe Chan's personal story and invited reflection on the meaning of home and belonging. Set between Hong Kong and the UK, the story portrayed a journey of migration and self-discovery, which was further discussed in the artist's sharing following the performance.

A select list of recent awards and recognition received by our associates—congratulations!

Dr. Hedy Law appointed as Director of School of Music.

Dr. Jamie Peck elected as University Killam Professor.

Dr. Helena Wu received the Public Humanities Award.

Over the past year, HKSI associates have shared their insights on a wide range of topics, just as HKSI events have been mentioned in the media.