Coronavirus crisis a ‘tsunami’ for Hong Kong’s film industry already hit by months-long anti-government protests
- Sector has been reeling from mainland restrictions on manpower and creative material, on top of staple cop thrillers now being a sensitive topic
- Effect of outbreak on mainland cinemas means massive revenue loss for local filmmakers who have become reliant on joint productions
Hong Kong’s movie production has ground to a halt as the city scrambles to contain the coronavirus outbreak, with an industry veteran warning of a “tsunami” to come for a sector already hit by the months-long civil unrest.
Three insiders said the effects of the health crisis could be even more serious than the severe acute respiratory syndrome epidemic in 2003.
That year, the industry was not yet reliant on mainland China, but now, as cinemas across the border close with the Covid-19 virus infecting more than 77,700 and the death toll beyond 2,300, some have taken to releasing their work on streaming platforms, to mixed views from peers.
In an interview with the Post, Tenky Tin Kai-man, chairman of the executive committee of the Federation of Hong Kong Filmmakers, estimated there was zero production of non-documentary films between February and March.
