“Lights, camera, action” feels so real here. The Hong Kong Film Archive stands as a testament to the city’s cinematic legacy. It is a place where film history is not just preserved but celebrated.
Founded in 1993 this archive has been collecting, preserving, and screening Hong Kong films and related materials. It became part of the International Federation of Film Archives in 1996. Since 2000 the Leisure and Cultural Services Department manages it.
The Hong Kong Film Archive building, located in Sai Wan Ho, is more than just a storage facility. It is a cultural hub. Exhibitions, screenings, and seminars are regularly hosted here. They showcase the best of Hong Kong cinema. The archive also publishes the Hong Kong Filmography book series. It also produces Monographs of Hong Kong Film Veterans. The quarterly Newsletter keeps everyone updated on the archive’s activities. It includes features on film culture.
In 2011 TVB donated about 1000 film titles from the 1930s to the 1990s. These films are now permanently preserved at the Hong Kong Film Archive. Among these were 600 films new to the archive’s collection. This included 27 Chaozhou and Amoy dialect films.
The earliest Chinese film in TVB’s library, Little Heroine from 1939, now resides here. Also, the earliest Hong Kong film in the library, Female Spy 76 from 1947, is preserved here. Eight films from the HKFA’s recommended “100 Must-See Hong Kong Movies” are part of the collection.
Housed in a five-story building on 50 Lei King Road, the Hong Kong Film Archive opened in 2001. A 125-seat cinema regularly screens archive holdings.
The Hong Kong Film Archive is equipped with state-of-the-art technology. This ensures the films of yesteryear regain their original glamour. It also welcomes donations of films and film-related materials. These are assessed based on their historical, social, and artistic value.
The Hong Kong Film Archive is dedicated to conserving and promoting Hong Kong’s film heritage. It facilitates film research. The archive’s vision is to be a world-class film archive. The archive enriches our understanding of society. It does this by holding regular programmes. These include retrospectives, exhibitions and seminars.
So, whether you are a die-hard film buff or a curious traveler. A visit to the Hong Kong Film Archive promises a journey through the heart of Hong Kong cinema.