Spotlight On Hong Kong
Past, Present, and Future
HONG KONG FILMMAKER IN PROFILE
NINA PAW 鮑起靜
Nina Paw Hee-Ching (b. July 20, 1949) is one of Hong Kong’s most distinguished actresses, acclaimed for her rich and nuanced portrayals of mothers. Born into a
cinematic family — daughter of the late actor Paw Fong and sister to Oscar-winning cinematographer Peter Pau — she began acting in 1968 and rose to fame with WHITE HAIRED DEVIL LADY (1980). She later became a household name at Asia Television (ATV), starring in dramas like FATHERLAND and hosting AFTERNOON TEA.
Her career reached a pinnacle with Ann Hui’s THE WAY WE ARE (2008), which earned her Best Actress at both the Hong Kong Film Awards and the Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards. Since then, Paw has continued to impress in films including RIGOR MORTIS (2013), I’M LIVING IT (2020) and MY PRINCE EDWARD (2020). Paw also ventured into Korean cinema alongside Tang Wei in SCI-FI WONDERLAND (2024). With upcoming works MY FIRST OF MAY (2025) and SONS OF THE NEON NIGHT (2025), she remains a vibrant force in Asian and Hong Kong cinema.
HIFF45 SPOTLIGHT ON HONG KONG FILMS
HIFF is honored to present its 2025 Spotlight on Hong Kong, showcasing the diversity and vitality of one of Asia’s most influential film industries. This year’s lineup bridges the past and future, highlighting celebrated masters and rising voices alike.
Highlights include the neon-drenched crime epic SONS OF THE NEON NIGHT, the latest directorial effort from superstar Juno Mak, starring some of Hong Kong’s biggest stars—Takeshi Kaneshiro, Tony Leung Ka-fai, Sean Lau, Louis Khoo, and Nina Paw. The film’s development and production is extraordinarily protracted. Announced in 2013 and shot largely in 2017, the film spent years in post-production as Mak pursued extensive visual effects work and multiple edits, causing repeated delays and fueling industry curiosity. After nearly a decade of anticipation, this ambitious noir finally emerged as a testament to the director’s meticulous craftsmanship and determination to perfect every frame, with a well-earned world premiere at this year’s Cannes Film Festival.
There is also the award-winning animated feature ANOTHER WORLD, which points to the exciting new talent emerging from Hong Kong, in a galaxy-brain sci-fi fantasy that rivals the best in Japanese animation. Critics lauded the film’s “dazzling” and “mind-blowing” visuals, with particularly high praise for the top-tier character and environment designs. As for the story, there is deep lore and world building with explorations of human emotions like grief, rage, and the struggle to let go, which are existential struggles we face everyday, while still grounded in fantastical elements.
The program also features 24 FLAVORS, starring the legendary Sylvia Chang and directed by Elaine Huang, a moving exploration of identity and culture. Finally, HIFF is bringing back previous Hong Kong Filmmaker In Profile Ann Hui’s THE WAY WE ARE, in honor of Nina Paw’s Best Actress–winning performance at the Hong Kong Film Awards. By honoring Paw as this year’s Filmmaker in Profile and spotlighting new works, HIFF celebrates Hong Kong cinema’s enduring legacy and boundless future.