[2026.04.27] JOSEPHINE SIAO MAKES A RARE APPEARANCE AT THE PREMIERE OF THE SPOOKY BUNCH 4K RESTORED VERSION

Josephine Siao appears at the premiere, jokingly thanks the audience for not applauding for her
courtesy of on.cc

Away from public appearance for a long time, Josephine Siao appears at the premiere of the film she starred in and produced, THE SPOOKY BUNCH's 4K RESTORED VERSION world premiere. She thanks Director Yonfan for advocating for the film to be restored.

THE SPOOKY BUNCH is Ann Hui's second film as a director. Back then Stanley Kwan was her assistant director. They share the production experience, including Stanley Kwan's claim that Ann Hui scolded him and made him cry.

NIGHT KING director Jack Ng attends THE SPOOKY BUNCH premiere. He says that recently he is working hard to thank the audience of the third highest grossing Chinese film in Hong Kong history, NIGHT KING, and hopes to catch up to his other film A GUILTY CONSCIENCE's performance
courtesy of mingpao.com

Stanley Kwan Kam Peng, Ann Hui On Wah, Rebecca Lee Lok Sze and others attended the world premiere of the 1980 movie THE SPOOKY BUNCH (JONG DOH JENG) (4K Digitally Restored Version) the night before as the Hong Kong Pop Culture Fest 2026's Fantasies in Reality: A Cinematic Journey opening film. The film restoration advocate Director Yonfan and the film's lead actress and producer, the 79 year old Josephine Siao Fong Fong (Sister Fong Fong) appeared together, much to the surprise of the entire audience.

Before the movie started, the emcee Tina Liu Tin Lan before inviting Sister Fong Fong to appear asked the audience turned on their mobile phone lights instead of applause to keep from making Sister Fong Fong feel unwell due to her nearly total hearing loss. "Don't clap, the sound wave would make dizzy Sister Fong Fong dizzy for two week. Please welcome her with lights and love." The entire venue switched on the flashlight on their phones.

As soon as Sister Fong Fong took the stage, she blew a big kiss to the audience. She was both excited and excited as she joked, "Thank you very much for not applauding." She got choked up and said, "I feel so happy! Because this movie was shot 46 years ago but still have the opportunity to have a premiere here today (yesterday), I have to thank director Yonfan. Only because of the director would it have this opportunity. I also thank the Hong Kong Film Archive for restoring the film, I think after the restoration it would be very entertaining." She also thanked the film's director Hui On Wah, assistant director Kwan Kam Peng, and others on the same stage one by one. She joked, "It's like the movie has won an award!" Before taking a group photo, Siao Fong Fong added, "One last thing, I wish everyone good health, good health and happiness every day.

Hui On Wah said that although THE SPOOKY BUNCH's subject was horror, the process was without any strand of it; the film's assistant director Kwan Kam Peng said that he grew up watching Siao Fong Fong's movies and described that on the set he turned into a little fan. Playing a female ghost in the film, Lau Tin Lan joked that back then she was just are "little girl". She was very honored to participate in the 8 month long shoot and because of THE SPOOKY BUNCH her love for film was inspired. Lee Lok Sze could not forget about reading the script at night and scared her with the visuals she imagined from it.

Hui On Wah smiled and recalled that when she was filming BOAT PEOPLE (TAU BUN NO HOI), she scolded her assistant director at the time Kwan Kam Pang until he cried. She explained that because the scene with the hydrogen balloon could not be completed after a week, so she was very "frustrated". However she was a person who would forget after scolding people, whether she or others was at fault. Kwan Kam Peng pointed out that although Hui On Wah was not a gentle person, she actually rarely scolded people; nor was she a ill tempered person as she would treat actors kindly. If actors have yet to enter the role, Hui On Wah would pull them aside for discussions. He also named Siao Fong Fong, Deanie Ip Tak Han and Anita Mui Yim Fong as good actors.

As for the current film market, the two famous directors believed that it is related to resources. The film industry is indeed not as rich in resources as it was in the 80s of the last century. Kwan Kam Peng said, "Because of the limited budget, sometimes you have to 'work with what you got', just like (Sammi) Cheng Sau Man took the role in LOST LOVE (LAU SHUI LOK FA) she took zero salary in support." He also sent a message to the younger generation of directors not only to indulge in their own style, but also to move the audience.

In addition, director Jack Ng Wai Lun was also present to show his support. Regarding the film he directed, Dayo Wong Tze Wah and Sammi Cheng Sau Man starred NIGHT KING (YEH WONG) has exceeded HK$ 113 million at the box office in Hong Kong and Macau to become the third highest-grossing Hong Kong film. Was he confident that it would reach second place? He humbly said that there would be still some distance to go, so he had to work hard to catch up. The next day he would continue to thank the audience the next day. Speaking of him and Tze Wah having become a dream team, he joked that as long as it does not turn into actually dreaming he was fine. He would not rule out the possibility of continuing to work with Tze Wah. In addition, in terms of writing scripts Tze Wah was even his elder. Wong Tze Wah not only performed but also gave suggestions, he estimated that with the right subject he would be interested in conceiving the script together. He said that if NIGHT KING's performance would take another step forward, he would look forward to another celebration from the boss. He hoped that Cheng Sau Man would be able to make time to attend.