[2026.10.17] STANLEY KWAN REFUSES TO REMAKE ROUGE

Tsui Hark receives the honorary doctorate, and Brigitte Lin is in the audience to bear witness

Stanley Kwan is grateful to many superstars he has had the honor to work with since the start of his career
courtesy of on.cc

Tsui Hark receives the Academy of Performing Arts honorary doctorate

Stanley Kwan (left) and Sun Kim Long (right) receive the honorary fellowships

Chung Suet Ying's WE ARE BORN GOOD has been referred to as "having erotic performance". She calls for everyone to strengthen communication to prevent misleading the audience
courtesy of mingpao.com

The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts held a ceremony yesterday to honor the honorary doctorates and honorary fellows, and awarded the honorary titles to 6 outstanding people in recognition of their outstanding achievements in the arts and culture industry. They are Tsui Hark, who was awarded honorary doctorates of the Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts; Stanley Kwan Kam Peng, Mo Yu Tin (Sun Kim Long), Yang Yuntao, Yu Yan Wah and Flora Yu Kit Yee, who were awarded honorary fellows of the Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts. Brigitte Lin (Lam Ching Ha) personally arrived to witness the honorary moment of his friend Tsui Hark.

The ceremony was officiated by Professor Symon Wong Yu Ming, the Academy Council Chairman, and Professor Anna Chan Chung Ying, Director. First, five honorary fellows were awarded to Kwan Kam Peng, Sun Kim Long, Yang Yuntao, Yu Yan Wah and Yu Kit Yee, and then the honorary doctorate was awarded to Tsui Hark.

Tsui Hark was praised by Director Chan as one of the most influential and visionary filmmakers in contemporary cinema in Hong Kong, playing a pivotal role in Hong Kong's film going to the world stage. As a director, producer, screenwriter and film creative pioneer, Tsui Hark has profoundly shaped the artistic landscape of Hong Kong film and established its international position. His work has expanded the artistic boundaries of action films and inspired countless creators around the world. Tsui Hark went to the United States to study films in the late 1960s, returned to Hong Kong in 1977 to enter television production, and first directed the film THE BUTTERFLY MURDER (DIP BIN) in 1979. In the 1980s, Tsui Hark has become a pioneer in the creative and production mode of the film, and has successively produced classic works such as ZU: WARRIORS FROM THE MAGIC MOUNTAIN (SUN SHOOK SHAN GIM HUP), A BETTER TOMORROW (YING HUNG BOON SIK), A CHINESE GHOST STORY (SIN NUI YAU WAN), SHANGHAI BLUES (SEUNG HOI JI YEH), PEKING OPERA BLUES (DOH MA DAN), ONCE UPON A TIME IN CHINA (WONG FEI HUNG). At any time of evolution, Tsui Hark is committed to expanding the possibilities of film technology and narrative, and has used digital special effects and stereoscopic film technology to promote the development of three- dimensional production of Chinese-language films, representing the works of THE FLYING SWORDS OF DRAGON GATE (LUNG MOON FEI GAP), THE TAKING OF TIGER MOUNTAIN (JI CHUI WAI FU SHAN). Tsui Hark, who has been in the film industry for more than 40 years, has continued to expand the boundaries of the film language and actively supported the development of younger generations, which has a profound impact on the development of mainland China, Hong Kong, China and the global film industry.

Kwan Kam Peng, who was praised by Dr. Terry Lam Kwan Sing, Dean of the School of Film and Television, as an outstanding Hong Kong director, producer and educator, reflecting the long-term development of Chinese-speaking film and performing arts education. In 1976, Kwan Kam Peng, who participated in the TVB Performing Arts Training Course, started by production assistant and first directed the feature film WOMEN (NUI YUN SUM), after which many of his works included ROUGE (YIN JI KAU), FULL MOON IN NEW YORK (YUN JOI NAU YUEK), CENTER STAGE (YUEN LING YUK) and RED ROSE WHITE ROSE (HUNG MUI GWAI BAK MUI GWAI) have laid his international reputation. He has been committed to training a new generation of talent, from time to time with industry insiders to teach director and screenwriters, to provide his own film as a case study screening, and to share his personal experience in filmmaking, creative decision-making and directory with the younger generation.

Sun Kim Long was praised by Professor Martin Lau Kwok Ying, Dean of the School of Chinese Opera. After more than 50 years in the art world, he has been a well-known Cantonese opera performer, producer, playwright and educator. He has been committed to the creation and education promotion of Cantonese opera for many years. He has successively created two major theatre companies, such as "New Phoenix" and "New Glory", recording many classic golden melodies and personally writing famous operas like REUNION AT THE LOTUS POND, THE JADE HAIRPIN, and A LOVE POEM STAINED WITH BLOOD and leaving Cantonese Opera with countless treasure. Sun Kim Long is committed to promoting cultural heritage, visiting the campus for more than 20 years to promote art education, and actively cultivating art talents, so that traditional art can be passed on and sustainable development.

In addition, the two dancers, Yang Yuntao and Yu Yan Wah, were praised by Professor Ou Lu, Dean of the School of Dance, and Professor Stella Lau Yin Ling, Senior Lecturer (Ballet) in the School of Dance; while Yu Kit Yee, an art administrative officer, was read by Professor Chan Chung Ying, Director of the Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts.

In an interview, Kwan Kam Peng was humbled by the honorary fellowship, saying that he did not deserve it because film productions have always only be what he liked to do and was lucky to have the opportunity to complete the work. Looking back at nearly half a century of film career, Kwan Kam Peng is very lucky, and has had the privilege of following a number of outstanding famous directors while working on television, and now it is his turn to teach film courses at the City University of Hong Kong, teaching two electives for writers and directors. He said, "From the time I have had the honor of learning from famous directors like (Ann) Hui On Wa, (Patrick) Tam Ka Ming and (Dennis) Yu Wan Kong over 40 years ago at TVB, to now teaching in the university, it is a kind of film spirit inheritance and extension. I am grateful for following this group of excellent director in the late 1970s and early 1980s. I think it's also the passing of the torch and a kind of legacy."

Kwan Kam Peng recalled that after graduating from the performing arts training course in 1976, he has been in the industry for 50 years; the happiest of which is to be able to collaborate with the male and female actors he greatly admires, including Anita Mui Yim Fong, Maggie Cheung Man Yuk, Tony Leung Chiu Wai, Chow Yun Fat, Elaine Jin (Kam Yin Ling) and Sammi Cheng Sau Man. The most memorable must be the two superstars Mui Yim Fong (Ah Mui) and Leslie Cheung Kwok Wing (Gor Gor)'s passing in succession. He said, "Ah Mui, Gor Gor and I were originally talking about a new project. They have all agreeed to perform, but unfortunately in the end both passed away. The project has been permanently put on hold." For some people who hope to remake the classic film ROUGE, Kwan Kam Peng said categorically that he would not. "Where would you find another Mui Yim Fong and Cheung Kwok Wing for me? I wouldn't consider about remaking this movie that so many people want to see." Kwan Kam Peng said that if other directors are interested in remaking it, they are welcome to find the right actors to play "Yu Fa" and "Sam Yi Siu". He will never touch the script again. As for the theft of Mui Yim Fong's ashes, he helplessly said, "I really don't understand, I couldn't say anything about it neither."

Regarding the future work plan, in addition to teaching, Kwan Kam Peng is also busy preparing a new film adapted from a novel that is based on the relationship between mother and daughter. He plans to use the 3-month period of school summer vacation in 2027 on the production, which is currently in the stage of script revision. The cast has not yet been implemented. Kwan Kam Peng has been helping new directors as a producer in recent years. He especially appreciated the director Sasha Chuk Chi Ngan, as well as the actors Wu Kang-Ren, Fish Liew Chi Yu, Angela Yuen Lai Lam, etc., and thought that their performance was also remarkable. Has he noticed Yuen Lai Lam's alleged sexual harassment incident? He said that he has not so he was not at liberty to respond. As for the current physical condition of Kwan Kam Peng, he said that he was quite good. Although he has slight discomfort in his hand, it was only because of exercise. He joked, "I have to stay healthy, or I won't be able to carry a 180 pound body around to make a film."

Tsui Hark recently attended the Lumiere Film Festival in France, where his four films, SHANGHAI BLUES, PEKING OPERA BLUES, ONCE UPON A TIME IN CHINA and TIME AND TIDE (SHUN LAU YIK LAU), were scheduled to be screened and he felt honored. In an interview with European media, he said that looking back at his works made decades ago, those days felt very distant but now suddenly reappeared, making it feel as if time had never passed. Walking into the theater and seeing the old works still loved by audiences was a wonderful feeling. He spoke about his late best partner Shi Nansun, saying the films reminded him of many colleagues he once worked shoulder to shoulder with; especially missing Shi Nansun, who devoted years of dedication to the Film Workshop.

When asked about many people worrying about the future of film and the entire art field, especially the development of artificial intelligence (AI), would he be worried? Tsui Hark said the essence of human nature is the fear of being replaced by something. This fear, whether in relationships, career, economics, or understanding of 'freedom', makes it impossible to predict which direction the future will lead. He said that at this age, he always feels like he does not have much time left to worry about the future, but he still hopes things would not get worse. He wants to stay optimistic. The world is chaotic, but at least he can do one thing: guide everyone to focus on the better side of human nature, remind each other to enjoy life and human creativity. Film is a great entry point.