A collection of four films, each telling a unique story centred around the theme of islands—whether set on, about, or originating from them. These films explore alternative narratives that delve into the vulnerable histories of the islands of Okinawa, Singapore, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, as well as the lived experiences of their inhabitants.

Through cross-cultural encounters and interactions—among humans and beyond—resulting from migration, colonisation, political expansion, and climate change, these films reveal the intrinsic complexities of islands in East and Southeast Asia through evocative moving images.

This programme is co-presented by Hong Kong Film Festival UK and the ESEA film collective “Archipelago” . It is part of the East and Southeast Asian Heritage Month (ESEAHM) programme.

Programme

Is There Anything Specific You Want Me To Tell You About?
dir. Yau Ching, Hong Kong 1991, 12 min. In English with Chinese subtitles 

Loosely structured as a letter home, a “writer” explicates the longings, nostalgia and regrets that exile, even voluntary exile, produces.

An Invocation To The Earth
dir. Yeo Siew Hua, Singapore 2020, 16 min. In Malay, Tagalog and English with English subtitles

The film is based on a spell to resurrect spirits, calling back old vendettas and new friendships, like that of the Buaya (crocodile) and Kancil (mouse-deer) folklore.

Making A Perfect Donut
dir. Kyun-Chome, Japan 2017-18, 40 min. In Japanese with English and Japanese subtitles 

I devised a plan to create the perfect donut without a hole by combining American donuts and Okinawan donuts. However, it turned out to be an incredibly challenging task.

Mamu
dir. Aephie Chen, Taiwan / UK 2024, 15 mins. In English with English subtitles 

Mayaw's indigenous Taiwanese roots and his daughter's biracial identity are at the heart of their transcendent dreams.