[2026.10.06] TONY LEUNG CHIU WAI STRONGLY PROMOTES PHILIP YUNG'S NEW FILM CYCLONE

Tony Leung Chiu Wai (left) praises Philip Yung's new film CYCLONE (right) for its special and heartfelt subject

Tony Leung Chiu Wai (right) poses for a photo with CYCLONE star Liu Yuqiao (left)

Philip Yung (right) has been leading the cast to thank the audiences at many shows

Ronald Cheng posts a photo with his company's artist Edwynn Li (left) and strongly supports his work
courtesy of mingpao.com

Director Philip Yung Tsz Kwong's new film CYCLONE (CHIU FUNG) explores transgender issues. Starring mainland actress Liu Yuqiao alongside Edwynn Li Yuxuan and Jennifer Suen Wo Yi, the film was selected for the big screen competition at the Rotterdam International Film Festival and the feature film competition at the Bangkok Film Festival. Over the past few days Yung Tsz Kwong has led actors in Hong Kong to thank the audience and has invited friends from the industry to enjoy the show. Best Actor Tony Leung Chiu Wai made a special video to share his feelings, revealing that he was deeply moved after watching the film as he thought about it from the cinema all the way home and even went sleepless all night. He also thanked Yung Tsz Kwong and praised the crew and actors, saying that the film made him reflect on life, the meaning of existence, destiny, and freedom. He called on the audience to attend and support this heartfelt and unique film.

CYCLONE will be released on October 2nd. It would be the first Yung Tsz Kwong directed and written film to explore transgender issues, and starring Liu Yuqiao, Li Yuxuan, and Suen Wo Yi. The story follows the protagonist Chaofeng (Liu Yuqiao)'s trek from the mainland to Hong Kong. In order to become her true self, she works hard to earn money for gender affirmation surgery. While facing the entanglement of her drug addict boyfriend, she meets her confidante Xiaomei and is taken care of. At the moment of her final transformation, she suddenly hesitates whether this is the freedom she longs for.

Yung Tsz Kwong, along with actors and production teams, thanked the audience at several screenings over the past few days and invited many industry friends to enjoy the show. They included Leung Chiu Wai, MIRROR members Edan Lui Cheuk On and Tiger Yau Ngo Yin, Fish Liew Chi Yu, Kearen Pang Sau Wai, and Chris Lai Lok Yi.

Leung Chiu Wai was recently moved after watching the film to share his feelings about it, thanked Yung Tsz Kwong and praised the crew and actors' dedication. The actors' performances were very natural, with no trace of acting. This uniquely subjected film had a direct impact on him, making him feel a bit miserable. On the way home after the show, he kept reflecting, "Why do I feel so miserable? I would think about life, the meaning of existence, destiny, and freedom."

Leung Chiu Wai explained that this heaviness stemmed from his recent reading of existentialist philosophical books, which led to his association. "In other words it is about how people live in a meaningless and absurd world, and how should we survive?" He revealed that while watching the film, Camus's work "The Stranger" came to mind. He recalled the real-life situation of transgender people, believing that they 'are like strangers, why is it so hard for others to understand their psychological state in the real world?'

Leung Chiu Wai said that even after returning home, these thoughts still kept him awake. He cited the core existential proposition that "existence precedes essence," pointing out that humans possess absolute freedom to create meaning and live. Even in prison or war, there is still a certain degree of intellectual freedom. The experiences of Jews during World War II also lingered in his mind, prompting him to reflect on the silence of the world and the Creator and to associate with Camus's absurdism or existentialism. He emphasized that the above were just personal feelings. "I believe different viewers will have different opinions after watching. This is just my personal feeling. It's rare that even when the film market is struggling, there can still be such a thoughtful and unique subject matter like this. I hope everyone will support it. Thank you."

Lui Cheuk On said his impression after watching CYCLONE was very shocking. He praised Yung Tsz Kwong's camera work and said that every actor's performance was worth the ticket price, sometimes even two or three times more. Yau Ngo Yin said that Hong Kong needs such powerful and gentle films, and thanked Yung Tsz Kwong for leading everyone to explore some issues faced by the minority. Liew Chi Yu said that CYCLONE is a film that goes beyond everyone's imagination and reveals extraordinary relationships. Away from the public for a long time, Ronald Cheng Chung Kei posted a photo with his artist Li Yuxuan on social media, recommending his first starring role in CYCLONE, praising his talent, saying he has prepared for the performance for a long time and hoping that the audience would show their support.

CYCLONE is one of the "B2B A Love Supreme" project jointly produced by the Hong Kong International Film Festival Association and China's Heaven Pictures, receiving a funding of 1 million HKD. Earlier Yung Tsz Kwong revealed that he also financed several hundred thousand HKD to complete the filming. "When I received the invitation for the Hong Kong International Film Festival's 'B2B' program, I didn't immediately think of making a transgender-themed film. When I saw 'THE TWO LIVE OF LI ERMAO' (directed by Jia Yuchuan in 2019), a documentary about the displaced lives of transgender people in mainland China. I was deeply moved. So we traveled everywhere, hoping to portray this bold and passionate character as a city heroine like Mei Chaofeng in Jin Yong's novels -- light as dust, male and female in one, living with dignity and autonomy amid the misty and cold mountains and waters, maintaining balance and self-awareness amid layers of self-questioning."