Future Vision: Sci-Fi Film Series Celebrates HKScM's 35th Anniversary with Engaging Post-Screening Talks

"Future Vision" to feature four inspiring sci-fi films

Jointly organised by the Film Programmes Office and the Hong Kong Science Museum (HKScM) of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, the film programme "Future Vision" will showcase four sci-fi films - "WALL·E" (2008), "Tomorrowland" (2015), "Bicentennial Man" (1999), and "Gattaca" (1997) - at the Lecture Hall of the HKScM on April 18 and 26. The programme celebrates the 35th anniversary of the HKScM and the opening of its new exhibition galleries: the InnoTech Gallery, Living Tech Gallery, and AI Gallery.

The film programme "Future Vision", Photo source: lcsd.gov.hk

Post-screening talks will be held after each screening. The Vice-President (Research) and Chair Professor of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering of City University of Hong Kong, Professor Shum Ho-cheung; the Director of the School of Innovation of the University of Hong Kong (HKU), Professor So Kwok-hay; Associate Professor of the School of Biomedical Sciences of the HKU Professor Wong Siu-lun; and Senior Lecturer of the General Education Foundation Programme of the Chinese University of Hong Kong Dr Pang Kam-moon have been invited to explore the science concepts behind the films with the audience.

In "WALL·E", after the Earth has become an abandoned wasteland of rubbish, a small robot accidentally discovers a seedling, proving that the planet can once again sustain life. The discovery rekindles humankind's determination to return and rebuild their home after centuries drifting in space. The film won multiple awards, including the 2009 Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.

Casey, a teenage science enthusiast in "Tomorrowland", comes across a mysterious badge that transports her to a futuristic city at the intersection of time and space. There she finds a prophetic device, which predicts the impending destruction of the world, sparking an extraordinary adventure of optimism and the power of science.

"Bicentennial Man" tells the story of a household robot named Andrew, who breaks down the psychological barrier between himself and humans with his innocence and creativity. After learning to understand human emotions and experiencing love, he adopts an organic body and strives for legal recognition as a human being.

In "Gattaca", humans engineer their offspring through the selection of genetic traits, leaving the naturally conceived protagonist, Vincent, labelled as "In-Valid". To pursue his dream of becoming an astronaut, Vincent must assume a false identity to conceal his "genetic defects". However, an act of foul play threatens to shatter his aspirations just days before his space mission.

All films are in English and with Chinese subtitles.The screening times of the four films are as follow:

April 18 (Saturday)

3pm

WALL·E

7pm

Tomorrowland

April 26 (Sunday)

2.30pm

Bicentennial Man

7pm

Gattaca

Tickets priced at $75 are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone bookings, please call 3166 1288. For programme enquiries, please call 2734 2900 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/fp/en/listing.html?id=91.

Jointly organised by the Film Programmes Office and the Hong Kong Science Museum of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, the film programme "Future Vision" will showcase four sci-fi films. Photo shows a film still of "Gattaca" (1997). (© 1997 Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc.) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Jointly organised by the Film Programmes Office and the Hong Kong Science Museum of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, the film programme "Future Vision" will showcase four sci-fi films. Photo shows a film still of "Tomorrowland" (2015). (© 2015 Walt Disney Pictures) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Jointly organised by the Film Programmes Office and the Hong Kong Science Museum of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, the film programme "Future Vision" will showcase four sci-fi films. Photo shows a film still of "Bicentennial Man" (1999). (© 1999 Touchstone Pictures A.A.D.O. Disney Enterprises, Inc. and Palisade Investors, LLC.) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Jointly organised by the Film Programmes Office and the Hong Kong Science Museum of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, the film programme "Future Vision" will showcase four sci-fi films. Photo shows a film still of "WALL·E" (2008). (© Disney/Pixar) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

CJ expresses sorrow over passing of former NPJ Sir Anthony Frank Mason

The following is issued on behalf of the Judiciary:

Chief Justice Andrew Cheung, Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal, today (March 18) expressed deep sadness over the passing of the Honourable Sir Anthony Frank Mason, GBM, former Non-Permanent Judge (NPJ) of the Court of Final Appeal (CFA).

"Sir Anthony, who served from 1997 to 2015 as one of the earliest NPJs drawn from another common law jurisdiction, was a steadfast pillar of the CFA since its inception. He sat on many of the Court's most significant constitutional cases during its formative years and authored some of its most important judgments. Beyond constitutional law, he also contributed substantially to the Court's jurisprudence in other important areas of law, leaving a lasting imprint on its early development. Through his judicial wisdom, integrity and international standing, he made an immeasurable contribution to establishing the Court's reputation as Hong Kong's apex court and to securing the confidence and trust of the community it serves. In recognition of his distinguished service to Hong Kong, he was awarded the Grand Bauhinia Medal in 2013," Chief Justice Cheung said.

Sir Anthony was born in Australia in 1925. He was admitted to the New South Wales Bar in 1951 and appointed a Queen's Counsel in 1964. In 1969, Sir Anthony was appointed a Judge of the Supreme Court of New South Wales, where he sat as a member of the Court of Appeal until 1972. In 1972, he was appointed to the Bench of the High Court. From 1987 to 1995, he served as the Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia. He was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia in 1988.

"On behalf of the Judiciary, I would like to extend my deepest condolences to Sir Anthony's family," Chief Justice Cheung said.

Source: AI-found images