Tilda Swinton, Apichatpong Weerasethakul Join Forces for Chanel’s Asian Cinema Initiative

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To boost the recognition of Asian films, Chanel’s Cultural Fund is generating excitement in Hong Kong and Thailand by bringing together Academy Award-winner Tilda Swinton and Palme d’Or laureate Apichatpong Weerasethakul for a groundbreaking partnership, marking a significant milestone.

In Hong Kong, Chanel is leading a restoration project for the M+ museum, under the supervision of Silke Schmickl, Chanel’s chief curator of moving images. She will manage the collections, commissions, and curatorial programs at the M+ Moving Image Centre. This initiative aims to restore nine significant Hong Kong New Wave films, with three of them set to be showcased at prominent international film festivals in 2025: T’ang Shushuen’s “The Arch” (1968), Peter Yung’s “The System” (1979) and Patrick Tam’s “Love Massacre” (1981).

Tessa Swinton mused about the essence of cinema, stating that every film, regardless of its age, feels like the current moment. You can watch a movie made in 1923 and it feels as if you’re there, just as you can envision a film yet to be created in a century from now and it will feel the same. She also pointed out that no film is truly ‘new’, as every film you see has gone through a few stages before reaching you. This makes the art of film preservation an inherent part of its very nature.

Experienced filmmaker T’ang Shushuen emphasized the universal charm of cinema by saying, “Film is similar to a window offering a glimpse into the human experience, making it an incredibly potent means of communication.

Under Yana Peel’s guidance as global head of arts and culture, the high-end residence is organizing an initiative that will present Weerasethakul’s premiere of “A Conversation with the Sun (VR)” – a virtual reality production featuring music by the late Ryuichi Sakamoto and visuals by Katsuya Taniguchi – at the Bangkok Experimental Film Festival.

As an ardent admirer, I find myself resonating deeply with the Thai master filmmaker’s introspection on his artistic roots: “My unique take on Asian cinema and our existence has always been entwined with spirits – echoes of history, rays of light, unspoken truths. ‘A Conversation with the Sun’ (VR) is a continuation of this legacy, albeit in a novel medium. It’s a cinema detached from the screen, where the sun serves as the focal point for contemplation. Presenting this work at the Bangkok Experimental Film Festival carries significance because this city, this region, appreciates transience. Sunlight shifts, forms fade away, recollections dissipate. We are perpetually adrift.

This initiative encompasses two key elements: M+ Rediscoveries, a regular program that highlights restored masterpieces and the innovative cinematography of up-and-coming Asian artists. Additionally, it includes Avant-Garde Now, a segment showcasing notable video artists and experimental filmmakers from Asia. Furthermore, the French fashion industry is supporting the Asian Avant-Garde Film Festival and establishing a vast library for film circulation.

This partnership presents “A Meeting: The Final Scene that Seemed Cinematic,” an interactive talk show with Swinton and Weerasethakul discussing various topics, overseen by Kong Rithdee. This unique event combines sound, light, and film to delve into themes of memory and perception.

Peel expressed: “It’s an immense pleasure and privilege to highlight the pivotal role this region plays in cinema and visual media, both in its traditional past and its modern, digital era.

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2025-01-22 14:16