Hong Kong’s cinematic torch is burning bright, and Anselm Chan’s holding the flame! Today, February 27, 2025, the acclaimed director of The Last Dance sent ripples through the city’s film scene with a tantalizing promise: a special sneak peek of his award-winning drama at next month’s FILMART, the region’s premier entertainment marketplace. With just weeks until the March 17-20 event, Chan’s tease is positioning this poignant tale as the one to watch, ready to dazzle buyers and cement Hong Kong’s spot on the Asian cinema map.
The announcement dropped this morning during a casual chat at a Central coffee shop, where Chan—sporting his signature specs and a sly grin—let slip the news to a huddle of eager journalists. “FILMART’s the perfect stage,” he said, sipping an espresso. “The Last Dance has a heartbeat that’s pure Hong Kong—I can’t wait to share a taste of it there.” The room hummed with excitement as he hinted at exclusive footage, likely a polished cut of the film that’s already snagged awards at festivals like Busan and Tokyo late last year.
For those not yet in the know, The Last Dance is Chan’s latest gem—a bittersweet drama about a retired dancer (played by veteran Susan Shaw) facing her fading years, woven with flashbacks of her glory days and a tender bond with her estranged son. Shot across Hong Kong’s gritty streets and glitzy studios, it’s a love letter to the city’s resilience, wrapped in visuals so lush they practically pirouette off the screen. “It’s about endings, but also beginnings,” Chan mused today. “That’s what I want buyers to feel.”
FILMART, set to draw thousands of industry pros to the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, is the ideal launchpad. Chan’s team confirmed they’re prepping a 10-minute sizzle reel—think tear-jerking scenes, a killer dance sequence, and that haunting score that’s got critics raving. “We’re aiming for Asian distributors first,” a producer spilled, “but there’s buzz from Europe, too—this could go global.” With 2025 shaping up as a banner year for Hong Kong cinema, The Last Dance is poised to lead the charge.
Chan’s no stranger to the spotlight—his 2021 indie Drifting nabbed local awards and international nods—but this feels like his big swing. “Anselm’s got a vision that sings,” gushed a FILMART organizer today, already slotting his preview into a prime slot. “It’s emotional, it’s gorgeous—it’s what buyers crave.” Word is, the sneak peek might even feature a live Q&A with Chan and Shaw, whose performance is already tipped for a Hong Kong Film Awards run.
Local film buffs are eating it up, too. “I saw it at a festival—it wrecked me,” said one fan outside the IFC Mall today, still misty-eyed from the memory. “Anselm’s showing the world what Hong Kong can do!” Industry insiders agree, predicting The Last Dance could lock deals with streamers like Netflix or festivals hungry for Asian arthouse hits. “It’s got legs—figuratively and literally,” quipped a distributor, nodding to the dance motifs.
As FILMART looms, Chan’s keeping cool but clearly pumped. “This is just the start,” he teased, hinting at more projects in the pipeline. For now, all eyes are on that sneak peek—a chance for The Last Dance to take its bow and pirouette Hong Kong into the global spotlight. Curtain’s up soon—don’t miss this one!