Knowledge Matters

Ever since its inception and establishment, the Hong Kong Film Archive immediately began collecting and archiving information about Hong Kong cinema from its earliest years to recent developments in the form of the Hong Kong Filmography Series. At the same time, it kick-started its Oral History Project, whereby over 500 film professionals have been interviewed. Parts of these interviews have been collated and published into the ‘Oral History Series’. Many other monographs have also been published, on subjects such as local filmmakers, film companies and organisations, dialect and genre cinema, as well as special programmes curated in conjunction with the exhibitions and screening activities held by the Archive. It has also hosted a great number of seminars, in which the dissertations and scholarly writing presented on such occasions are collated and published too. In addition to the 70-plus titles that the Archive has published so far, it is also responsible for the periodical Newsletter, released since August 1997, where over 90 issues have been published and distributed. Newsletter contains the latest news about the Archive, as well as essays on cinema and culture which help promote the appreciation of film as an art form and an area of scholarly study. In recent years, the Archive has also started to develop and release e-publications, which can be downloaded from our website for free, as an invaluable and convenient resource for local and overseas readers.

1994: ‘Oral History Project' is launched. Over 500 film veterans have been interviewed as of today: (from left) Research Coordinator Yu Mo-wan, Lee Tit.
1994: ‘Oral History Project’ is launched. Over 500 film veterans have been interviewed as of today: (from left) Research Coordinator Yu Mo-wan, Lee Tit.
1997: Hong Kong Filmography Vol. I (1913-1941) is published.
1997: Hong Kong Filmography Vol. I (1913-1941) is published.
2000: The Oral History Series Volume I: Hong Kong Here I Come is published: (from left) Chen Dieyi, Tong Yuejuan, Chin Tsi-ang, Ho Look-ying at the book launch.
2000: The Oral History Series Volume I: Hong Kong Here I Come is published: (from left) Chen Dieyi, Tong Yuejuan, Chin Tsi-ang, Ho Look-ying at the book launch.
With the generous support of Chu Hung and other filmmakers, the Archive has conducted oral history interviews with over 100 film veterans as of 2002. In 2002, interviewers (Back row from right) Chu Hung and Donna Chu made a trip to Shanghai to interview (front row) Shu Shi, his wife Feng Huang and (back row, 1st left) Cen Fan.
With the generous support of Chu Hung and other filmmakers, the Archive has conducted oral history interviews with over 100 film veterans as of 2002. In 2002, interviewers (Back row from right) Chu Hung and Donna Chu made a trip to Shanghai to interview (front row) Shu Shi, his wife Feng Huang and (back row, 1st left) Cen Fan.
2002: The first edition of The Cathay Story (left) is published. The revised edition (right) is published in 2009.
2002: The first edition of The Cathay Story (left) is published. The revised edition (right) is published in 2009.
2002: Chang Cheh: A Memoir is published.
2002: Chang Cheh: A Memoir is published.
2003: The Shaw Screen: A Preliminary Study is published.
2003: The Shaw Screen: A Preliminary Study is published.
2006: The Glorious Modernity of Kong Ngee is published. Research Officer Wong Ain-ling, Project Researcher Grace Ng and Programming Assistant Bede Cheng flew to Singapore to interview Ho Kian-ngiap, owner of Kong Ngee Co: (from left) Bede Cheng, Mr and Mrs Ho, Wong Ain-ling, Grace Ng.
2006: The Glorious Modernity of Kong Ngee is published. Research Officer Wong Ain-ling, Project Researcher Grace Ng and Programming Assistant Bede Cheng flew to Singapore to interview Ho Kian-ngiap, owner of Kong Ngee Co: (from left) Bede Cheng, Mr and Mrs Ho, Wong Ain-ling, Grace Ng.
27-29 October 2006: The Archive jointly presents ‘The Cold War Factor in Hong Kong Cinema, 1950s-1970s' Symposium with the Centre of Asian Studies of The University of Hong Kong: (from left) Yung Sai-shing, Sam Ho, Lee Pui-tak, Law Kar, Wong Ain-ling.
27-29 October 2006: The Archive jointly presents ‘The Cold War Factor in Hong Kong Cinema, 1950s-1970s’ Symposium with the Centre of Asian Studies of The University of Hong Kong: (from left) Yung Sai-shing, Sam Ho, Lee Pui-tak, Law Kar, Wong Ain-ling.
2006: Attending guests of ‘The Cold War Factor in Hong Kong Cinema, 1950s-1970s' Symposium.
2006: Attending guests of ‘The Cold War Factor in Hong Kong Cinema, 1950s-1970s’ Symposium.
2007: The Oral History Series Volume IV: Wong Tin-lam is published: (from left) Wong Tin-lam, Wong Ain-ling.
2007: The Oral History Series Volume IV: Wong Tin-lam is published: (from left) Wong Tin-lam, Wong Ain-ling.
2008: The theme programme ‘Epic Times, Simple Stories: The World of Zhu Shilin' is held, along with a series of film screening, an exhibition and a publication. A photo taken at the ‘Zhu Shilin in the Context of Chinese Cinema' Seminar: (from left) Wong Ain-ling; Li Shaobai, renowned historian of Chinese cinema; Shu Kei; Ding Yaping from the Chinese Academy of Arts.
2008: The theme programme ‘Epic Times, Simple Stories: The World of Zhu Shilin’ is held, along with a series of film screening, an exhibition and a publication. A photo taken at the ‘Zhu Shilin in the Context of Chinese Cinema’ Seminar: (from left) Wong Ain-ling; Li Shaobai, renowned historian of Chinese cinema; Shu Kei; Ding Yaping from the Chinese Academy of Arts.
15-17 December 2009: The Archive presents in association with The University of Hong Kong the ‘History of Early Chinese Cinema(s) Revisited' conference: (from left) Emile Yeh (Hong Kong Baptist University), Richie Lam (HKFA Head), Wong Siu-lun (Centre of Asian Studies, The University of Hong Kong) and Fu Po-shek (University of Illinois) at the opening ceremony. Paul Pickowicz (1st right) is the keynote speaker.
15-17 December 2009: The Archive presents in association with The University of Hong Kong the ‘History of Early Chinese Cinema(s) Revisited’ conference: (from left) Emilie Yeh Yueh-yu (Hong Kong Baptist University), Richie Lam (HKFA Head), Wong Siu-lun (Centre of Asian Studies, The University of Hong Kong) and Poshek Fu (University of Illinois) at the opening ceremony. Paul Pickowicz (1st right) is the keynote speaker.
2009: Attending guests of ‘History of Early Chinese Cinema(s) Revisited' conference.
2009: Attending guests of ‘History of Early Chinese Cinema(s) Revisited’ conference.
2010: The Oral History Series Volume VI: Lung Kong is published. (From right) Patrick Lung Kong, Ng See-yuen.
2010: The Oral History Series Volume VI: Lung Kong is published. (From right) Patrick Lung Kong, Ng See-yuen.
The Oral History Series Volumes I-VI
The Oral History Series Volumes I-VI
2012: The Amoy-dialect Films of Hong Kong is published. A photo of Ivy Ling Po after the interview. (From left) Angel Shing, Research Assistant; May Ng, Project Researcher; Ivy Ling Po; Po Fung, Research Officer; Winnie Fu, Programme Coordinator; Cass Wong, Programme Assistant.
2012: The Amoy-dialect Films of Hong Kong is published. A photo of Ivy Ling Po after the interview. (From left) Angel Shing, Research Assistant; May Ng, Project Researcher; Ivy Ling Po; Po Fung, Research Officer; Winnie Fu, Programme Coordinator; Cass Wong, Programme Assistant.
2012: Chong Sit-fong speaks at ‘Those were the Days' seminar, as part of ‘The Strange Case of Hong Kong Amoy Cinema' programme. A congregation of Amoy film scholars: (from left) Su Zhangkai, May Ng, Jeremy Taylor, Chong Sit Fong, Po Fung, Edwin Chen, Yu Siu-wah, Yung Sai-shing, Huang Wen-chu.
2012: Chong Sit-fong speaks at ‘Those were the Days’ seminar, as part of ‘The Strange Case of Hong Kong Amoy Cinema’ programme. A congregation of Amoy film scholars: (from left) Su Zhangkai, May Ng, Jeremy Taylor, Chong Sit Fong, Po Fung, Edwin Chen, Yu Siu-wah, Yung Sai-shing, Huang Wen-chu.
2013: Golden Harvest: Leading Change in Changing Times is published. A photo of Raymond Chow with our researchers after the interview: (from left) Po Fung, Research Officer; Raymond Chow; Lau Yam, Project Researcher.
2013: Golden Harvest: Leading Change in Changing Times is published. A photo of Raymond Chow with our researchers after the interview: (from left) Po Fung, Research Officer; Raymond Chow; Lau Yam, Project Researcher.
2013: Golden Harvest: Leading Change in Changing Times is published. Sammo Hung (left) and Yuen Biu (right) in two separate interviews.
2013: Golden Harvest: Leading Change in Changing Times is published. Sammo Hung (left) and Yuen Biu (right) in two separate interviews.
2013: The Chaozhou-dialect Films of Hong Kong is published. Chan Chor-wai (left) and Cheung Ying-yin (right) in two separate interviews.
2013: The Chaozhou-dialect Films of Hong Kong is published. Chan Chor-wai (left) and Cheung Ying-yin (right) in two separate interviews.
2015: ‘Movie Talk Series 1 – The Dream of a Lost Traveller: The Films & Photography of Peter Yung' is held. At the book launch-cum-film screening session: (from left) Peter Yung, Law Kar.
2015: ‘Movie Talk Series 1 – The Dream of a Lost Traveller: The Films & Photography of Peter Yung’ is held. At the book launch-cum-film screening session: (from left) Peter Yung, Law Kar.
2016: The Essence of Entertainment: Cinema City's Glory Days is published. A photo of Karl Maka (5th left) and staff of the Archive after the interview.
2016: The Essence of Entertainment: Cinema City’s Glory Days is published. A photo of Karl Maka (5th left) and staff of the Archive after the interview.
2016: The Essence of Entertainment: Cinema City's Glory Days is published. A photo of Dean Shek (right) and HKFA Head Janet Young (left).
2016: The Essence of Entertainment: Cinema City’s Glory Days is published. A photo of Dean Shek (right) and HKFA Head Janet Young (left).
2018: The Oral History Series Volume VII: When the Wind Was Blowing Wild: Hong Kong Cinema of the 1970s is published in the form of an e-book.
2018: The Oral History Series Volume VII: When the Wind Was Blowing Wild: Hong Kong Cinema of the 1970s is published in the form of an e-book.
2019: The e-book Heritage and Integration – A Study of Hong Kong Cantonese Opera Films is published. Yuen Siu-fai visited the Archive four times to help us identify different gongjia (feats) in Cantonese opera films: (from right) Yuen Siu-fai, Yuen Tsz-ying.
2019: The e-book Heritage and Integration – A Study of Hong Kong Cantonese Opera Films is published. Yuen Siu-fai visited the Archive four times to help us identify different gongjia (feats) in Cantonese opera films: (from right) Yuen Siu-fai, Yuen Tsz-ying.
In addition to the revised edition of Filmography I, a total of eight volumes of the Filmographies have been published from 1997 to 2020, providing key information of films and documentaries produced between 1914 and 1979.
In addition to the revised edition of Filmography I, a total of eight volumes of the Filmographies have been published from 1997 to 2020, providing key information of films and documentaries produced between 1914 and 1979.
2020: A Different Brilliance – The D & B Story is published. Photos of two helmsmen of D & B at different times: John Sham (left) and Stephen Shin (right).
2020: A Different Brilliance – The D & B Story is published. Photos of two helmsmen of D & B at different times: John Sham (left) and Stephen Shin (right).