The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in San Francisco (HKETO-SF) was a presenting sponsor of CAAMFest 2021.  The festival, presented by the San Francisco-based Center for Asian American Media (CAAM), celebrated the rich and diverse Asian American and Asian experience through storytelling and conversations, featuring films, panels and music programs. 

This year’s festival ran from May 13 to 23 with an opening weekend featuring drive-in screenings at Fort Mason FLIX in San Francisco.  The 11-day festival also incorporated live virtual screenings and on-demand screenings. Over 50 events including screenings, panels and live performances were scheduled.

Hong Kong Cinema Showcase was part of the festival’s special presentations.  Wong Kar-wai’s HAPPY TOGETHER and Adam Wong’s THE WAY WE KEEP DANCING were included in the opening weekend drive-in programs at Fort Mason FLIX.  Derek Tsang’s BETTER DAYS, Lik Ho’s I STILL REMEMBER, and Man Lim-chung’s KEEP ROLLING were in the line-up of the on-demand screenings.  Also included in the Showcase was a special conversation about the cinematic legacy of Wong Kar-wai.  The panel speakers were Kiki Fung, Program Consultant for the Hong Kong International Film Festival and Bede Cheng, Managing Director at L’Immagine Ritrovata Asia.

The Director of the HKETO-SF, Ms. Jacko Tsang, spoke at the festival’s opening night, the Hong Kong Showcase drive-in screenings as well as the on-demand programs via recorded videos. She thanked CAAM for including Hong Kong movies in the mix of its storytelling and conversation. 

“CAAM has always been inclusive and has a diverse programming.  Over the years, CAAM has paid tribute to many influential Hong Kong filmmakers.  At the same time, they have also supported the works of emerging directors.

“Likewise in Hong Kong, we have put much emphasis in nurturing young and talented filmmakers.  The Directors’ Succession Scheme is just one example.  Established directors are encouraged to team up with young filmmakers to co-produce films, with subsidies granted.  10-12 projects are expected to be realized soon.  I hope we will be able to share with you soon,” Ms. Tsang said at the recorded remarks at the opening night on May 13.

Hong Kong cinema has provided the world with some of the greatest filmmakers.  “Wong Kar-wai has  an extraordinary influence in the film industry across the globe. Wong’s films not only helped Hong Kong’s cinema gain worldwide recognition, his artistic styles also have wide-ranging influences on the arts, fashion and culture,” she said at the opening remarks of the panel discussion, “Wong Kar-wai and his Cinematic Legacy Conversation”.

Ms Tsang appreciated CAAM’s special tribute to Wong Kar-wai in this year’s festival and that his iconic film, HAPPY TOGETHER, could be watched at the festival’s drive-in screening.

To make the drive-in experience more memorable, HKETO-SF presented the audience with a gift bag.  Included in the bag was a Hong Kong snack.  “We think it would be nice to enjoy a movie with a quintessential Hong Kong treat,” Ms. Tsang said at the drive-in screening on May 15.