Interview with director and jury member Mabel Cheung

Capturing the Soul of Hong Kong Through Time

At the 28th Far East Film Festival, legendary director Mabel Cheung offered deep reflections on the intimate relationship between cinema and memory. Celebrated for weaving Hong Kong’s historical texture into personal narratives, Mabel Cheung described her body of work as an inadvertent archive. Looking back at films such as City of Glass, she explained that her primary impulse was not to produce a deliberate historical document but to preserve the landmarks of her own life. That personal urgency, she said, is what gives her films enduring emotional weight, particularly as Hong Kong’s physical and cultural landscape continues to change rapidly.

The Urgency of Preservation and City of Glass

During the festival conversation, Mabel Cheung recalled the precise moment that sparked City of Glass: the imminent demolition of her university dormitory, which felt like the erasure of her youth. That anxiety about loss extended to the city’s identity, especially around the 1997 transition. Mabel Cheung admitted she feared even street names such as Queen’s Road Central might disappear or be recast by a different historical narrative. By committing these details to film, she managed to freeze elements of a moment in time, safeguarding the values and memories of a generation and making them continually accessible through cinema’s long memory.

Evaluating the New Generation of Asian Cinema

As a juror at the 28th Far East Film Festival, Mabel Cheung is charged with identifying the cinematic voices likely to shape the industry’s future. Asked what she looks for in emerging filmmakers, she emphasized that technical perfection is not her main criterion. Instead, she seeks authenticity and the honest transmission of feeling. For a veteran like Mabel Cheung , the most important quality in a film is its capacity to leave a lasting impression on the viewer’s memory. She noted that this year’s FEFF selection includes several directors who demonstrate that sincere emotional delivery.

A Witness to the Birth of New Talent

Serving on the festival jury gives Mabel Cheung a privileged vantage point to observe the evolution of contemporary storytelling. She expressed satisfaction with the vitality of today’s Asian cinema, observing that many promising directors are supported by exceptional actors who help realize their visions. For Mabel Cheung , being in Udine is not merely a professional obligation; it is an opportunity to witness the emergence of a new generation of filmmakers who are as frank and courageous as the masters who came before them. Her presence at FEFF 2026 continues to motivate audiences and inspire young creators, reinforcing the festival’s role as a space where memory, history, and fresh cinematic voices converge.