Hong Kong's FilMart Gets Animated as More Toons Join Project Market Lineup
Held alongside FilMart, HAF received 60% more animated submissions than last year. This year's animation slate features industry veterans and newcomers alike, including acclaimed director Toe Yuen, who won the 2003 Annecy Cristal for best feature with 'My Life as McDull.' The following is an overview of the animated films at HAF.
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Cloud of the Unknown
Director: Gao Yuan (Hong Kong, France)
Based on Yuan's short of the same name and produced by Isabelle Glachant and Camille Li, this 2D feature is a surreal exploration of dreams and reality. Produced by Chinese Shadows and Shasha & Co. Production, the film follows Yun, a girl who vanishes into strange worlds when she falls asleep, and Sha, who dreams of being a paralyzed painter in a dystopian world. As their paths cross, they begin to question the nature of their existence. 'The encounter between Yun and Sha motivates them to explore themselves further,' said Yuan.
Fly!
Directors: Pelixiano Saputranovic, Ellen Xie (Indonesia)
'Fly!' is a tale set against the backdrop of Bali's spiritual landscape. Produced by ArtCodeStory and MOAI Entertainment, the film follows Wayan, a young Balinese boy who embarks on a mystical journey to reunite with his lost father. As he navigates the spirit world, Wayan faces a choice that could alter his destiny forever. 'In a world where so many have experienced loss and longing from separation, 'Fly!' is a reminder that love never truly fades — it simply transforms,' said Saputranovic. The film is currently in development, with an estimated finish date of 2027.
Light Pillar
Director: Xu Zao (China)
Produced by Da Peng and Lu Xiaowei, 'Light Pillar' is a story set in a nearly deserted film studio that mixes live action and animated sequences. Lao Cha, a janitor, finds companionship in a stray cat and befriends a woman named Li in a virtual world, only to discover that Li is actually a 10-year-old boy. Produced by Fengduan Film, the film explores themes of love, happiness and cycles of renewal. 'Love and happiness sometimes need to be pursued, but more often, they need to be discovered,' said Zao, who previously won DOK Leipzig's Golden Dove for a feature with 'No Changes Have Taken in Our Life.'
A Mighty Adventure
Director: Toe Yuen (Taiwan, Hong Kong, Malaysia)
Keeping up with a resurgent dialogue-free trend in top animation — think Oscar-winner 'Flow' and nominee 'Robot Dreams' — action-packed comedy 'A Mighty Adventure' follows three insects — a grasshopper, spider and butterfly — as they navigate a vast concrete jungle. Produced by Zero One Film and Flystudio, the film blends live-action footage with CG insects to create a raw yet enchanting visual experience. 'This isn't just a visual experiment — it's a universal, entertaining ride for all ages,' said former Annecy winner Yuen. The film is currently in post-production and should be finished by summer.
MIN
Director: Li Jiajia (China)
'MIN' delves into the silent struggles of its titular character as she navigates the complexities of marriage and motherhood. Produced by the China Academy of Art, School of Animation and Games, the film explores the delicate balance between personal desires and societal expectations. 'The movie uses animation, a medium most distant from 'reality,' to present a story with a strong sense of realism,' said Li Jiajia, who previously served as art director on the Berlin competition player 'Art College 1994.'
Wildheart
Director: Marceau Nakayama (France, Belgium, Japan)
'Wildheart,' co-written by Nakayama and John A. Scott, is a Showa-era family drama set in late 1960s Tokyo. Produced by Keytales Studio in France and Forerunner Films in Belgium, the story revolves around Makoto, an 11-year-old girl who cares for her younger brother Kenta. As they search for their mother, Makoto grapples with the guilt of hiding a crucial piece of information from Kenta. 'Wildheart' employs a unique CineMation approach, blending live-action storytelling with the visual freedom of animation. Nakayama described the film as a fusion of Japanese and international cinema sensibilities, resulting in a distinct and original narrative.
The Tale of the Holy Beast
Director: Triparna Maiti (India)
Produced by Bejon K Vinod, 'The Tale of the Holy Beast' is a heart-wrenching story of a young elephant calf who loses his herd to poachers and is subsequently sold to various owners throughout his life. Produced by FAEM, the film explores the bond between humans and animals through the lens of captivity. 'Using animation, we are exploring the wild emotions and complexities of captivity,' said Maiti. The project is currently in development, with an estimated finish date of October 2028.
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Tom's Guide
8 hours ago
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You've probably never seen this action-packed thrill ride — but you can stream it on Netflix right now
Stumbling on to "The Night Comes for Us" on Netflix felt like something of a manic fever dream. I wanted a short, intense watch that didn't try to preach to me. I wanted something that would make me cringe every time a hit landed. In no time at all I realized that was exactly what it would deliver. It's safe to say I was pleasantly surprised by what followed as this flick brought the pain with gratuitous violence and satisfying shootouts. Directed by Timo Tjahjanto, the 2018 Indonesian action thriller wastes no time getting savage. But beyond that, the story is lean: a former enforcer tries to protect a child and ends up dragging everyone back into one impossible, gory night. If you want a short, bloody watch, this one delivers. Don't say I didn't warn you about the violence, but do press play if you can handle it. Interestingly enough, this overlooked gem isn't one I see spoken about often, but it certainly should be. In fact, there are tons of reasons to queue it up on Netflix right now. Ito (Joe Taslim) is a Triad enforcer who can't bring himself to kill a lone survivor, Reina (Asha Kenyeri Bermudez), and instead tries to get her to safety after a bloodbath of a night. That means trying to get Reina out of the city entirely before anyone notices. That choice, which finds Ito directly disobeying a strict order, ends up turning his entire world upside down. It also kicks off a citywide manhunt as former friends and new killers close in, like Arian (Iko Uwais) and a lethal figure known only as The Operator (Julie Estelle). The rest of "The Night Comes for Us" follows Ito's desperate, bloody attempts to protect Reina while he breaks his old loyalties and snaps while trying to break through anyone who dares challenge his decision to rescue Reina. Of course, he also continually finds the situation escalating, leaving little room for redemption for Ito or his comrades. It barrels toward a thrilling but terrifyingly violent conclusion that doesn't let up until the credits roll. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. The entirety of the movie is really fists, knives, and sleek choreography. So if that's your thing, you'll feel more than at home here. You'll see the action unfold across ramped apartments, neon alleys, empty stairwells, and the inky black dark of the night. Still, between the fights there are brief sequences that get a bit more introspective. It's easy to mistake "The Night Comes for Us" for a single-night crime story, but it chooses to dig deeper than that. It asks blunt questions about what a life built on violence actually buys you and whether one act of mercy can ever cancel a life full of harm. And while the violence is fast and furious with an enviable layer of polish, in the end it's not just glorified for the sake of "looking cool." You'll see the real price tag for what that kind of living gets you in the end, which humanizes the film a bit. If you want a fast and furious action flick that never pulls any punches (quite literally at times) and aren't especially squeamish, there's a lot to enjoy about "The Night Comes for Us", and it's a safe bet you've likely never seen it before.
Tom's Guide
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Bob Odenkirk is back in action in 'Nobody 2' — and it's another blast of brutal, comedic violence
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USA Today
a day ago
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'Nobody 2' star Bob Odenkirk insisted he could do this Bruce Lee stunt
Bob Odenkirk had already proven he's a certified action star before "Nobody 2" (in theaters Aug. 15). The "Better Call Saul" star, 62, punched above his weight playing easily overlooked family guy Hutch Mansell (secretly a former assassin), who is pulled back into the vengeful killing life in the 2021 thriller "Nobody." With a baddie body count estimated in the 60s, a fan-beloved battle on a Winnipeg city bus, and $57 million global haul at the pandemic-hampered box office, Odenkirk made his mark with makeup-enhanced bloodied knuckles. He truly felt the pervasive "Nobody" enthusiasm during a 2022 hiking trip to Ireland, where 40 fans besieged him in a restaurant. "Every single one of them wanted a picture, mostly about 'Nobody.' That made me think, 'Wow!' " says Odenkirk, whose next thought was, naturally, a sequel. Join our Watch Party! Sign up to receive USA TODAY's movie and TV recommendations right in your inbox Indonesian action director Timo Tjahjanto leads the new movie with Hawaiian shirt-wearing Hutch and his family, including his ex-FBI agent father (Christopher Lloyd), and his assassin lifestyle-accepting wife Becca (Connie Nielsen). The Mansells unleash summer vacation hell in fictional Plummerville − a tacky tourist town that hides its mobster underbelly. The bus fight has been replaced by Hutch's "Nobody 2" duck boat brawl with local thugs, a location inspired by the Berwyn, Illinois-born Odenkirk's childhood memories of the Wisconsin Dells, the Midwest's Vegas of waterparks. "I went on two trips as a kid, the Illinois State Fair and the Wisconsin Dells," says Odenkirk, who knows not to fight in duck boats. "They're just a clunky hunk of metal. You will get hurt. Everyone gets hurt in a duck boat fight." Here's what else to know about fighting Odenkirk and "Nobody 2." In 'The Bear' brawl, Bob Odenkirk's Uncle Lee could have battled Jon Bernthal's Mikey The infamous 2023 "Fishes" dinner episode in "The Bear" Season 2 is the most awards-heavy depiction of a dysfunctional Chicago Christmas in TV history. Jon Bernthal (as Mikey Berzatto) and Jamie Lee Curtis (as drunken matriarch Donna) won Emmys for the episode. Odenkirk earned a nomination as Donna's gentleman friend, Uncle Lee. The dinner ends with a table-turning brawl between Mikey and Uncle Lee that is halted primarily by Donna driving her car through the house. But Odenkirk believes Uncle Lee, who lunged at the fork-tossing Mikey, could have prevailed. "With the right move, Lee might have (won), but I don't think Bernthal would have quit either," says Odenkirk. "Maybe Lee could have gotten (Mikey) to a draw. Lee's a spark plug. He's ready to go." Bob Odenkirk did duck boat stunts, but was denied a Bruce Lee action move Odenkirk claims to have trained for two years to take on the "Nobody" action. 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"I thought he was the ideal guy to play the evil sheriff." Bob Odenkirk cracked up nightly in 'Glengarry Glen Ross' over this actor's line delivery Odenkirk found humor during his Tony Award-nominated Broadway run in David Mamet's pressure-cooker drama "Glengarry Glen Ross." It was hard not to find laughs in the Broadway revival featuring some of the funniest humans on Earth: Kieran Culkin, Bill Burr and "Spinal Tap" star Michael McKean. Odenkirk had to fight to keep his game face intact each night, listening to McKean deliver one seemingly straightforward dramatic line. "McKean would make me laugh every time with the line, 'We had a robbery!' The way he did it got an audience laugh every night," says Odenkirk. "And it was a huge laugh." Visualize 'Nobody 3,' but not around Christmas If "Nobody 2" hits even close to "Nobody," Odenkirk says fans should hold on for "Nobody 3." He envisions a scenario when Becca and Hutch's two teenage kids have grown up and flown the coop. "It's like the kids are out of the house and in the world, and it's like, 'Gee, are they OK? Where are they now?' " says Odenkirk, who vows not to follow the summer vacation 'Nobody 2' with a Christmas-themed movie. "I don't want to copy National Lampoon that much."
