Hong Kong Drama Meta-theatricalThe film, produced by industry veteran Derek Yee and directed by feature director Ken T. K. Wong, will have its world premiere as the opening film of the 28th Shanghai International Film Festival, the festival announced this week. The full lineup for the event will be revealed on June 3, and the festival runs from June 12 to 21 this year.
Written and directed by Wong, Meta-theatrical It follows Owen, a celebrated theater director who spent more than a decade in creative paralysis. When his former lover resurfaces and his wife begins to drift toward infidelity, Owen commits himself to writing, directing, and starring in a new theatrical production—only to become dangerously involved with an untrained young actress he encounters during casting, steadily blurring the boundaries between theater and life. Stephen Fung stars as Owen, with Chrissy Chow, Mioli Wu and Angela Yuen.
The project arose from the Director Succession Plan of the Hong Kong SAR Government, which brings together established filmmakers and emerging directors as producing mentors. Yee is known for a series of gritty Hong Kong dramas including the Hong Kong crime drama One night in Mongkok (2004), The protected one (2007) and Shinjuku Incident (2009), as well as the beloved 1993 romantic drama This is life, Mon Cheriewhich won six Hong Kong Film Awards including Best Picture and Best Director. Wong has previously worked below the line in a number of commercial productions in Hong Kong, including… I am someone, Master of the sword and In search of lost time.
The festival also revealed the full jury lists for the Gold Cup awards across five competitive divisions. Tony Leung Chiu-wai, who was previously announced as head of the main competition jury, will chair a seven-member panel including Chinese director Guan Hu, who Black dog It won the Un Certain Regard award at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival; Tunisian producer Dora Bouchoucha, one of the prominent figures in North African cinema; Georgian writer and director Diya Kulumbegashvili, best known for her films April She makes her competition debut in Venice in 2024; Mexican director Fernanda Valadez, winner of the World Cinema Dramatic Audience Award at Sundance in 2020; Kyrgyz director Aktan Arem Kubat, a veteran in the international arena; And Chinese actress Chen Zhili, who won the Best Actress award in Venice last year for her role The sun shines on us all.
The New Asian Talent section is headed by Singaporean director Anthony Chen, best known for the 2013 Camera d’Or award. Elo elo. The documentary film jury is chaired by American director Geeta Gandhipierre, nominated for an Oscar The perfect neighbor and Satan is busy. And the beloved British animator Will Pitcher Shaun the Sheep: Farmageddon movieheads the animation department.
