Taiwanese director Chin Chia-fa, whose debut feature film “Trouble Girl” (2023) received critical acclaim at the Golden Horse Awards and the Asian Film Awards, returns to the Hong Kong Asian Film Finance Forum (HAF) with her second feature film “A Ghost in the Market.” The project, which has appeared in several HAF development programs over the past four years, has been selected for the Work in Progress (WIP) section and is targeted for release in the first quarter of 2027.
As the project prepares to be re-proposed, Chin said she expects there will be questions about her choice as a male director to make a film centered on women’s experiences.
Reflecting on changes in the film industry since the pandemic, Chin cited the rapid rise of streaming platforms, but noted that theater audiences continue to respond strongly to stories that deal with women’s issues, family relationships, and stories rooted in society. He cited the 2024 film Substance as a notable example, saying its strong buzz and box office success shows that audiences will still return to theaters for unique storytelling and bold stylistic approaches.
Producer Eva Wang, who worked with Chin on both “Trouble Girl” and “A Ghost in the Market,” highlighted the extensive research that took place during the project’s development. The film explores themes of abusive relationships, psychological manipulation, and domestic violence. During the research process, the team sought to understand toxic relationships beyond the simple binary of perpetrator and victim, consulting with social workers and survivors.
“We’re not trying to provide answers through film,” Wang said. “Instead, we want our viewers to think about these questions with us.”
Originally conceived as a realist drama, the project gradually evolved over nearly six years of field research and script revisions. Chin ultimately incorporated supernatural elements such as folklore and zombie mythology, using fantasy to explore the emotional and psychological gaps in cycles of toxic relationships and reconfiguring the agency of her female characters.
“A Ghost in the Market” is currently in post-production, and Chin is also developing his next film, “Moon Spoon,” about homosexuality set in a religious community. The script was previously selected for the 2022 Golden Horse Film Project Promotion and won the Best Original Screenplay award.
Before joining the film industry in 2017, Chin worked in commercial advertising. He said he hopes participating in HAF will provide an opportunity to exchange ideas with other filmmakers, meet potential buyers and gain further insight into the international market.
WIP projects will be pitched at the Starlight Theater at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Center, where each team will present a 10-minute first look to industry participants including distributors, producers, investors, festival programmers, and funders.
