The rise in Hong Kong of the international Wave of Korean popular culture known as hallyu began in the early 2000s, but collaborations between the film industries of Korea and Hong Kong can be traced back to the 1950s, with the co-production Love with an Alien (1958). It was the beginning of a long and eventful history of cross-border exchange. To celebrate this meaningful relationship, the Hong Kong Film Archive and the Korean Film Archive have co-organised a screening programme encompassing six works from the 1960s to 1980s, highlighting the connections between the two film industries in terms of production and distribution.
The Hong Kong films featured in the programme include two early co-productions, illustrations of heightened production opportunities for Hong Kong filmmakers in Korea during the 1960s. This development indirectly led to more Hong Kong films being introduced to Korean audiences at a time when a quota system limiting the number of film imports was in place. The programme also features two masterpieces by wuxia auteur King Hu, one of them garnering high acclaim in Korea and the other shot in Korean locations. Also featured are the international premiere for the 4K digital restoration of director Patrick Lung Kong’s The Story of a Discharged Prisoner (1967), which will be the first time this renowned and influential film is screened in Korea. Sharing the spotlight is A Better Tomorrow, John Woo’s 1986 remake of Lung’s film, which was a big hit in Korea.
The screening programme will be held at the Korean Film Archive alongside a mini exhibition. It is the Hong Kong Film Archive’s wish that this initiative can strengthen the cultural exchange between Hong Kong and Korea, carrying forward the spirit of cross-border cooperation.
This screening is one of the programmes of “Hong Kong Week 2025@Seoul”. Hong Kong Week is an annual arts festival organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, celebrating Hong Kong’s creative excellence worldwide and fostering cultural exchange and artistic collaboration. In 2025, the festival arrives in Seoul, offering a vibrant showcase of Hong Kong’s dynamic arts scene. Kicking off on 26 September, the festival features 14 programmes with approximately 65 performances and activities, spanning dance, music, film, Chinese painting, comic creations, fashion design and a variety of fringe activities, connecting creative talents from Hong Kong and Seoul. For programme details and ticketing information, please visit hongkongweek.gov.hk.
Screening Venue: Korean Film Archive