Audiovisual Cut association is returning this year with Macau Stories 3 – City Maze showcasing three thrillers penned and directed by local filmmakers. Premiering this month, this highly anticipated programme is set to be a major breakthrough for the macau film making industry. CLOSER speaks to the programme producer Albert Chu, the three award-winning directors and one of the local leading ladies.
Since 2008, the Macau Stories film series has served as a platform for local talents to work together, exploring different social and personal topics, and showcasing their quality and thought-provoking works to local and international audiences.
“The principle of Macau Stories is that we choose different directors of great potential every time. We set the theme or the genre, but the directors are given absolute creative freedom,” comments President of Audiovisual CUT Association, Albert Chu.
Inspired by the fact that Macau was undergoing dramatic developments, in 2008 the programme focused on the changes occurring in five community areas. With its resonant nostalgia and compelling storytelling, the programme received positive responses from critics and audiences alike. The success brought the programme back with the theme of Love in the City in 2011.
This year, CUT has raised the bar by choosing the genre of ‘thriller’. Albert notes that this is not a commonly explored genre for the Macau film industry. As such, this type of film making not only posed a challenge for the directors, but also has the potential to create opportunities to promote Macau films both locally and further afield with an appeal to wider audiences.
He also says that after having watched the three thrillers, he noticed some consistent themes that show that people in the city are quite focused on complex thoughts.
Providing the directors with financial and professional support, CUT aspires to prove that Macau filmmaking is mature and high quality.
“Even though we cannot be compared with the high standard of Hollywood, we hope to let audiences see that local films are comparable to Hong Kong and Taiwan productions,” Albert concludes.
Macau Stories 3 – City Maze will premiere on January 29 at UA Galaxy Cinemas and public screenings will begin on January 30. The films will also be screened at Alegria Cinema from February 5.