The Hong Kong drama “Afterpeace”, produced by Derek Yee and directed by Keen TK Wong in his film debut, will have its world premiere as the opening film at the 28th Shanghai International Film Festival, which will be held from June 12th to 21st.
The film centers on Owen, a once famous stage director who has been paralyzed creatively for more than a decade. When a former lover returns under the guise of an old love, and his wife is on the brink of betrayal, Owen decides to write, direct, and star in his own new production. During an open casting call for a female protagonist, he becomes increasingly attracted to untrained newcomer Hannah, and begins to lose track of the line between theater and reality.
The cast includes Steven Fung, Chrissy Chow, Maioli Wu, and Angela Yuen. Fung plays the film’s male protagonist, a creator driven by despair and obsession, while Chow and Wu play his wife and ex-lover, respectively. Yuen is cast as the inexperienced newcomer who turns the protagonist’s world upside down and becomes the catalyst that brings the film to its conclusion.
‘After Peace’ was born out of the Hong Kong Directors’ Succession Scheme, a government-funded initiative that pairs veteran filmmakers with emerging directors to support the rebirth of Hong Kong cinema across generations. Under the plan, Yee will take on the role of producer and mentor, bringing decades of experience in the field to Wong, who has previously contributed to works such as “I Am Somebody,” “The Sword Master” and “In Search of Lost Time.”
The 28th SIFF is led by the China Film Administration and hosted by China Media Group in cooperation with the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government.
