'Exploring Hong Kong Films of the 1930s and 1940s' published, exploring development and transformation of HK films

The e-book "Exploring Hong Kong Films of the 1930s and 1940s", has been published by the Hong Kong Film Archive (HKFA) of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and is now available for free download.

With the HKFA's acquisition of a cache of precious film prints and other relevant materials of 1930s and 1940s' Hong Kong movies in recent years, a symposium entitled "From Silent to Sound - Hong Kong Films of the 1930s and 1940s" was held as part of a series of programmes celebrating the HKFA's 20th anniversary last year. "Exploring Hong Kong Films of the 1930s and 1940s" is a collection of the papers and essays presented by scholars and researchers during the symposium. Divided into two parts, the publication explores the development and transformation of Hong Kong films in the 1930s and 1940s. "Part 1: Era and Film History" is an explication of the history of the Hong Kong film industry, exploring how it was influenced by various factors in different eras, as well as how filmmakers adjusted their operational strategies and persisted in their creative work during times of crisis. "Part 2: Genres‧Regions‧Culture" explores various film genres produced at the time, analysing their artistic and cultural values in an attempt to understand the great development potential of the local industry in its early days.

The two parts of "Exploring Hong Kong Films of the 1930s and 1940s" (in Chinese only) are now available in PDF format for free download at the HKFA's website www.filmarchive.gov.hk/en_US/web/hkfa/rp-electronic-publications-list.html.