Founded in Hong Kong in 1997, it has always been aimed at uniting local independent filmmakers, promoting and distributing local independent films. Ying E Chi’s work includes theatrical screenings, DVDs, online distribution, special screenings and film festival. Since its establishment, the organisation was funded by the Hong Kong Arts Development Council’s project grant and three-year administration funding. It also received funding from the Hong Kong Film Development Fund’s overseas film festivals and project grant, allowed us to slowly develop into a more experienced independent film hub; coupled with years of experience in cooperating with different filmmakers, arts organisation, distributors and theatre operators, the yearly event “Hong Kong Independent Film Festival” held since 2008 (HKindieFF). This film festival introduced many emerging directors to Hong Kong audiences, including Japanese independent filmmakers Ryusuke Hamaguchi and Sho Miyake, who were not yet widely known. Several retrospective sessions featured influential filmmakers like John Cassavetes, Agnès Varda, Chantal Akerman, Ogawa Shinsuke, Koji Wakamatsu, Masao Adachi, and Edward Yang were held, fostering a community of non-mainstream film enthusiasts.
In mid-2021, a letter from the Hong Kong Arts Development Council stating the release of a documentary film related to the 2019 anti-extradition law movement negatively impacted the society, leading to terminate the 3-year grant. Just days later, the management of the Hong Kong Jockey Club Creative Arts Centre (HKJCCAC), which served as its workspace, issued a non-renewal notice. Losing both funding and the administrative workspace simultaneously disrupted the daily operations and forced the suspension of the Hong Kong Independent Film Festival.
Amid the covid pandemic in 2022, the organisation was fortunate enough to secure funding from the Goethe Institute Hongkong to launch the “Keep Rolling – Independent Short Filmmaking Project”, enabling it to sponsor four emerging Hong Kong directors to create short films on the theme of the pandemic. The four films were released in cinemas from late 2022 to early 2023. However, recognising the growing challenges in promoting independent films in Hong Kong with the same vision as before, Ying E Chi was officially dissolved in 2023 by consensus of the Board of Directors.
In the autumn of 2024, Vincent Chui, the former artistic director, decided to re-establish Ying E Chi in Taiwan in his personal capacity, aiming to introduce high-quality, contemporary independent films to wider international audiences. His vision is to foster connections between Hong Kong and overseas filmmakers, broadening horizons and nourishing creativity.
In the face of the rapid technology development, especially in the AI era and with increasingly lightweight and advanced filming techniques, we strongly believe that independent films can still maximise their possibilities in the future with limited resources. In the days ahead, while safeguarding the most cherished traditional values of film, we must also keep pace with the times, presenting audiences with independent films that showcase unique style and distinction.