HKFA Launches Film Series Celebrating Qin and Han Dynasties, Showcasing Historical Cinema From June 28 to August 24

2025-05-19 17:00 Last Updated At：17:08

Film Archive to present screening programme Tracing Qin and Han Through Cinema

The Hong Kong Film Archive (HKFA) of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) will present a screening programme entitled Tracing Qin and Han Through Cinema from June 28 to August 24, screeningeight selected films, taking materials from the history of the Qin and Han dynasties. The programme will showcase how Hong Kong filmmakers draw inspiration from Chinese history, literature and folk legends to create films of distinct styles. The screening event is one of the programmes of the Chinese Culture Festival (CCF) 2025.

Click to Gallery

Film Archive to present screening programme Tracing Qin and Han Through Cinema Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

More Images

Film Archive to present screening programme Tracing Qin and Han Through Cinema Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The opening film, "The Great Conqueror's Concubine" (1994) (4K digitised version), with historical warlords Xiang Yu and Liu Bang portrayed by Ray Lui and Zhang Fengyi respectively, was directed by Stephen Shin, who penned the screenplay with Xiao He (He Jiping) and Sze Yeung-ping, based on the original screenplay by renowned writer Liu Heng. The film meticulously depicts the rise and fall of Xiang, illustrates magnificent battle scenes and conveys the anguish in battlefields in the past.

"A Terra-Cotta Warrior" (1990) is adapted by author Lilian Lee from her novel. The film follows the riveting romance spanning across eras between a Qin dynasty general, played by Zhang Yimou, and a court maiden in the past and a modern day actress, both played by Gong Li, vividly portraying the fantastical story with swift fighting scenes.

In "Dream Lovers" (1986), Chow Yun-fat and Brigitte Lin play a married couple in the Qin dynasty in their past lives. When they meet again at a terra-cotta army exhibition after reincarnations, their romance descends into a love triangle involving the fiancée of Chow's character in his current life, presenting a time-spanning love story.

"The Myth" (2005) is also a love story linking different eras. An archaeologist, played by Jackie Chan, and his scientist friend, played by Tony Leung Ka-fai, accidentally discover the archaeologist's lover in his past life, a princess played by Korean actress Kim Hee Seon, still alive in a royal tomb since taking an elixir of immortality during the Qin dynasty.

"Three Kingdoms: Resurrection of the Dragon" (2008) and "The Lost Bladesman" (2011) are both inspired by well-known figures during the Three Kingdoms period. The former tells the sad story of unfulfilled ambition and the cruel twists of fate in the life of the formidable general, Zhao Zilong, played by Andy Lau, from his prime years to old age, culminating in a fateful showdown with Cao Ying, a fictional character played by Maggie Q, the granddaughter of his enemy Cao Cao, as Zhao is under siege in a mountain battle, highlighting the poignant tragedy of Zhao's fate. Co-directed by Alan Mak and Felix Chong, "The Lost Bladesman" skillfully depicts Guan Yu, played by Donnie Yen, as a tragic hero through the story between Guan and Cao Cao, played by Jiang Wen, when Guan is captured by Cao.

In "Red Cliff" (2008) and "Red Cliff II" (2009), director John Woo brings the Battle of Red Cliffs, a watershed moment that sets the stage for the Three Kingdoms period, to the silver screen. Staring Tony Leung Chiu-wai, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Chang Chen and Zhang Fengyi, the films bring to life this legendary battle with the distinctive action choreography by Corey Yuen and spectacular sound designs and visual effects.

Some of the screenings will be accompanied by pre-screening or post-screening talks, hosted by directors Stephen Shin, Daniel Lee and John Woo (online); actor Ray Lui; film critics Thomas Shin, Shu Kei, Eric Tsang and Pierre Lam.

"The Great Conqueror's Concubine" and "A Terra-Cotta Warrior" will be screened at the Grand Theatre of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, with tickets priced at $80 and $70 respectively, and a 20 per cent discount for LCSD Museum Pass holders purchasing regular-priced tickets for the films at URBTIX outlets. Other films will be screened at the HKFA Cinema, with tickets priced at $60. A 20 per cent discount is also available for every purchase of regular-priced tickets of two or more screenings of this programme.

Tickets will be available from May 23 (Friday) at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone bookings, please call 3166 1288. For programme details, please visit the HKFA website (www.filmarchive.gov.hk/en/web/hkfa/2025/ccf-qin-and-han/pe-event-2025-ccf-qin-and-han.html) or call 2739 2139.

The CCF, presented by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau and organised by the Chinese Culture Promotion Office under the LCSD, aims to promote Chinese culture and enhance the public's national identity and cultural confidence. It also aims to attract top-notch artists and arts groups from the Mainland and other parts of the world for exchanges in Chinese arts and culture. The CCF 2025 will be held from June to September. Through different performing arts programmes in various forms and related extension activities, including selected programmes of the Chinese Opera Festival, "Tan Dun WE-Festival", film screenings, exhibitions, as well as community and school activities and more, the festival provides members of the public and visitors with more opportunities to enjoy distinctive programmes that showcase fine traditional Chinese culture, thereby facilitating patriotic education and contributing to the inheritance, transformation and development of traditional Chinese culture in Hong Kong. For more information about programmes and activities of the CCF 2025, please visit www.ccf.gov.hk.

EDB Urges Parents to Participate in Primary One Central Allocation Process for 2026 Admissions

EDB reminds parents to choose primary schools under Central Allocation process for their children

The Education Bureau (EDB) today (January 12) reminded parents that children who have joined the Primary One Admission (POA) System for 2026 but have not yet secured a discretionary place can take part in the Central Allocation process for a Primary One (P1) place in a government or aided primary school. Parents concerned should make their choice of schools within the period from January 19 to 25.

Digitalisation of POA

---------------------------

In line with the Smart Government strategy, the EDB has fully implemented digitalisation of the POA. Parents who have registered as POA e-Platform (ePOA) users and have bound their account to "iAM Smart+" may submit the Choice of Schools Form for Central Allocation from January 19 to 25 through the ePOA. Please refer to the related videos and Parent's Guide on the EDB's website (www.edb.gov.hk/en/edu-system/primary-secondary/spa-systems/primary-1-admission/poa_eplatform/index.html) for details of the procedures for activating and logging into an ePOA account and for making school choices for the Central Allocation of POA via the e-Platform.

Making school choices at Central Allocation Centres

-----------------------------------------------------------------

The EDB will send letters to parents on January 14 inviting them to make their choice of schools. To cater for the needs of different parents, parents can still submit the Choice of Schools Form in paper form by visiting the designated Central Allocation Centre at the suggested time slot (i.e. 9.30am to 12.30pm or 1.30pm to 4.30pm on January 24 (Saturday) or 9.30am to 12.30pm on January 25 (Sunday)) stated in the letter.

Parents who are ePOA users may choose to submit the Central Allocation Application via the ePOA or in paper form to the Central Allocation Centre but should not submit duplicate applications. Parents who have not yet received the letter by January 19 should call the School Places Allocation Section of the EDB (Hotline: 2832 7700) as soon as possible.

Only one parent of an applicant child is required to complete the school choice-making procedures. Parents are advised not to take their children to the Central Allocation Centre if possible. Parents who cannot make school choices within the suggested time slot can go to the designated Central Allocation Centre from 1.30pm to 4.30pm on January 25. The Choice of Schools Form will be sent together with the letter to parents who have submitted a paper Application Form at the Discretionary Places stage for filling out in advance.

In the event of adverse weather or other special conditions on any day during the period of making school choices, please pay heed to radio or television announcements on the relevant special arrangements.

Unable to submit application within specified choice-making period

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

For individual parents who are unable to use the ePOA or go to the Central Allocation Centre to make school choices, they can authorise in writing a representative to bring the completed Choice of Schools Form and their signed Letter of Authorisation to the Central Allocation Centre to proceed with the related procedures.

To apply for POA 2026 for their children after January 25, parents need to complete necessary procedures with the School Places Allocation Section, which will separately arrange P1 places for the applicant children in June.

Change of residential address

--------------------------------------

An EDB spokesman reminded parents that, if they have recently moved their residence or have such plans in the near future, they are required to inform the School Places Allocation Section as soon as possible so that they can make school choices in the POA School Net where their new home is located. Parents should fill in the actual residential address of their child. If they provide a false address for securing a P1 place, the POA application of their child will be rendered void and the P1 place allocated will be withdrawn.

The EDB has put in place a monitoring mechanism to verify the residential addresses of applicant children as given by the parents. Random checks have also been stepped up. The public may call the School Places Allocation Section to report suspected cases of using a false address by parents for their children's POA application. The EDB will take action against false address cases.

Mechanism of Central Allocation

----------------------------------------

Central Allocation is composed of two parts. Part A, which takes up 10 per cent of the P1 places earmarked for Central Allocation, is for unrestricted school choices. Parents can choose up to three government or aided primary schools in any school net. Part B takes up the remaining 90 per cent of the P1 places earmarked for Central Allocation. Parents of applicant children residing in the school net concerned are to select schools from the "Choice of Schools List for Central Allocation (Primary One Admission 2026)" of their school net, while parents of applicant children who intend to commute daily to schools in Hong Kong are to select schools from the "2026 Choice of Schools List for Central Allocation (For Applicant Children who intend to commute daily to schools in Hong Kong)". Parents should fill in the Choice of Schools Form in the order of their preference.

The mechanism of the Central Allocation is based on parents' choices in general. The computer-programmed allocation will first process the school choices in Part A and then the school choices in Part B. For oversubscribed schools, the order of priority in allocating places will be determined by random numbers generated by the computer for individual applicants to ensure fairness.

For information about the procedures for Central Allocation, please call the EDB's 24-hour automatic telephone enquiry service at 2891 0088.

Release of Central Allocation results

----------------------------------------------

For parents who have already activated their ePOA account via "iAM Smart" or "iAM Smart+", they will receive their Central Allocation results through the ePOA from 10am on June 3. Parents who wish to receive the allocation results via SMS on June 3 may choose such an option in the Choice of Schools Form. In addition, the allocation results will be sent to parents by post on June 3 and 4.

HKFA Launches Film Series Celebrating Qin and Han Dynasties, Showcasing Historical Cinema From June 28 to August 24

HK