'Hong Kong Shorts' presents a selection of creative and emotionally resonant works! Directors of Horse Peron, Moth and I, Lost Cause, and A Night to Bury attended the post-screening dicussion, sharing creative inspirations and behind-the-scenes stories.

Horse Person originated from an idea conceived during a competition, with Sha Tin, a familiar location of the directors, chosen as the filming district. Director Person Universe reflected that when they initially pondered the definition of 'dreams', they wondered whether it must be tied to success. They later realised that dreams could be simple pursuits, such as the pure thrill of speed, to 'become a horse'. Thus emerged this imaginative and dynamic short film. The director chuckled that due to budget constraints, they personally performed the lion dance techniques for the running sequences.

The inspiration for Lost Cause stems from director Poon Ka-fai's family experiences. He revealed that a relative once stayed at his home but returned daily only at dawn, later discovering the man gambled downstairs in the housing estate. This experience prompted the director to reflect on human nature, projecting childhood emotions into the short film. The film notably casts an actor who migrated from mainland China to Hong Kong, lending the narrative heightened realism and depth.

Moth and I, meanwhile, originates from fear. Director Oliver Chen confessed his own anxieties about numerous things, later realising everyone harbours unease and apprehension. He distilled this emotion into the film. Those seemingly exaggerated, shocking scenes are all authentic in reality; 'common' and 'normal' no longer suffice to explain them. He described the work as attempting to present humanity's ultimate 'madness' – perhaps the madness that frightens him.

As for A Night to Bury, director Chong Sai-to's creative impetus came from a family member's experience with cancer. When death becomes an inescapable reality, perhaps 'dying decently is a blessing in itself.' Though death is typically a serious subject, he handles it with a light touch, imbued with a tender and nuanced understanding of life and death. He hopes audiences will feel the warmth of life amidst laughter, and find the courage to say farewell. Finally, special thanks go to Trial and Error for their support.

Hong Kong Asian Film Festival remains committed to serving as a platform for short film creators, continuing its support for Hong Kong's short films! All local short film programmes at HKAFF have been immensely popular. We look forward to welcoming more audiences to discover these outstanding local short films and uncover more moving Hong Kong stories!