The Times Australia
News From Asia

.

The Pearl Lam Podcast Explores The Growing Global Influence of Hong Kong Filmmaker Ray Yeung

HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 23 May 2024 - Speaking to Pearl Lam (林明珠) on YouTube in a new episode of The Pearl Lam Podcast called 'The Golden Era Of Gay Cinema', Hong Kong screenwriter and Director Ray Yeung has shared his hopes for the future of Hong Kong cinema, highlighting the importance of LGBTQ representation and the exploration of underrepresented narratives.



Followers can subscribe to The Pearl Lam Podcast and access the episode here:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCivmi0eXL42nzaxtX-1EyZg?sub_confirmation=1

Ray Yeung has recently broken new boundaries with his latest film "All Shall Be Well," which was awarded the prestigious Teddy Award for Best Feature Film at the 2024 Berlin Film Festival. The Teddy Award is known for its celebration of films with LGBTQ themes. Yeung is the first Hong Kong Director to receive the award since Stanley Kwan in 1998. The award highlights the growing international impact of Yeung's work as a screenwriter and Director.

Interviewing Yeung for her podcast, gallerist Pearl Lam, who is well known for creating platforms for the exploration of underrepresented narratives within the contemporary art world, offers her perspective on the evolving contemporary landscape of Hong Kong. She and Ray Yeung reflect on local culture and society in Hong Kong and delve into the intersection of the traditional social values with the modern aspirations of Hong Kong.

Speaking to Pearl Lam, Ray Yeung says in The Pearl Lam Podcast: "I feel that film is something that someone can, for a very short period of time, depending on the length of the movie, really step into another world and be someone else and see their world from their perspective. I think it's a very good way for the world to actually embrace diversity and also to understand what empathy is. I think filmmaking is a very important thing."

In "All Shall Be Well," Yeung continues his exploration of underrepresented narratives, this time focusing on the experiences of a lesbian couple in their mid-sixties. Through poignant storytelling and captivating performances, the film delves into themes of grief, family and the struggles faced by the LGBTQ community in Hong Kong. Asked what he would do if Hollywood asked him to produce a film, Ray says: "The world is changing. In the old days, it used to be that epic movies will win Oscars and become mainstream. But now when you see the nominations for the best film award, a lot of them are independent. If there's Hollywood coming to ask me to do a movie, I'm certainly interested, and I can do something that has an LGBT sentiment. I feel that it doesn't have to be about gay people, but it can still be about that kind of subject matter."

Ray Yeung is also a longstanding and vocal advocate for LGBTQ rights, using his platform to spark meaningful dialogue and to effect positive change within the local community. He serves as Chairman of the Hong Kong Lesbian and Gay Film Festival, the longest running LGBTQ film festival in Asia, which has grown in prominence since its inception in 1989.

Pearl Lam says of the podcast episode 'The Golden Era Of Gay Cinema': "By creating and sharing these stories, Ray Yeung is not only giving a voice to those who are often unheard but is also challenging societal norms and stereotypes that he has personally experienced. His commitment to highlighting diverse narratives is a testament to his belief in the transformative power of cinema to create a more inclusive and just society."

A written Q&A based on the podcast episode is available on The Pearl Lam Podcast companion blog at: https://medium.com/@pearl-lam/the-golden-era-of-gay-cinema-with-ray-yeung-the-pearl-lam-podcast-fc1550bf4fa2

Hashtag: #PearlLamPodcast

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About The Pearl Lam Podcast

The Pearl Lam Podcast launched in 2023 as a platform to inspire, educate and disrupt conventional ways of thinking. As host of The Pearl Lam Podcast, Hong Kong gallerist Pearl Lam seeks to spotlight established and emerging voices from around the world who have shown an unwavering determination to break with convention and follow their own convictions - no matter what. Past episodes of The Pearl Lam Podcast have been filmed with guests in Seoul, Singapore, New York, Los Angeles, Paris and London about a diverse range of themes. The Pearl Lam Podcast is available on YouTube, Apple, Spotify and Amazon Music.

About (林明珠):
(林明珠) is an international gallerist and a leading global authority on Asian art and the global contemporary art market. Jan Dalley at The Financial Times calls "a powerhouse of the contemporary art world". Ted Loos at The New York Times calls her "a tour de force of the art world". Forbes names as "one of Asia's most powerful women". And in 2023 Prestige Magazine named her "one of the most powerful women in Hong Kong".

About Ray Yeung

Ray Yeung (楊曜愷) is a Hong Kong screenwriter and independent film director whose films frequently center around gay stories. Yeung made his feature film debut with Cut Sleeve Boys, a gay love story between two Chinese-British men at the International Film Festival Rotterdam in 2005. The film won Best Feature at the Outfest Fusion Festival in Los Angeles and Best Actor for Chowee Leow at the Madrid Lesbian and Gay Film Festival.

Ray Yeung later shifted his focus back to Hong Kong, directing Suk Suk (2020), a film that explored the romance of two gay men in Hong Kong's senior community. The film was awarded Best Film at the 2019 Hong Kong Film Critics Society Award. His second feature film Front Cover (2015) follows a gay Chinese American fashion stylist who rejects his heritage. The film won Best Screenplay at the FilmOut San Diego LGBT Film Festival. Yeung's new film All Shall Be Well (2024) premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival.

Times Magazine

Building an AI-First Culture in Your Company

AI isn't just something to think about anymore - it's becoming part of how we live and work, whether we like it or not. At the office, it definitely helps us move faster. But here's the thing: just using tools like ChatGPT or plugging AI into your wo...

Data Management Isn't Just About Tech—Here’s Why It’s a Human Problem Too

Photo by Kevin Kuby Manuel O. Diaz Jr.We live in a world drowning in data. Every click, swipe, medical scan, and financial transaction generates information, so much that managing it all has become one of the biggest challenges of our digital age. Bu...

Headless CMS in Digital Twins and 3D Product Experiences

Image by freepik As the metaverse becomes more advanced and accessible, it's clear that multiple sectors will use digital twins and 3D product experiences to visualize, connect, and streamline efforts better. A digital twin is a virtual replica of ...

The Decline of Hyper-Casual: How Mid-Core Mobile Games Took Over in 2025

In recent years, the mobile gaming landscape has undergone a significant transformation, with mid-core mobile games emerging as the dominant force in app stores by 2025. This shift is underpinned by changing user habits and evolving monetization tr...

Understanding ITIL 4 and PRINCE2 Project Management Synergy

Key Highlights ITIL 4 focuses on IT service management, emphasising continual improvement and value creation through modern digital transformation approaches. PRINCE2 project management supports systematic planning and execution of projects wit...

What AI Adoption Means for the Future of Workplace Risk Management

Image by freepik As industrial operations become more complex and fast-paced, the risks faced by workers and employers alike continue to grow. Traditional safety models—reliant on manual oversight, reactive investigations, and standardised checklist...

The Times Features

Is our mental health determined by where we live – or is it the other way round? New research sheds more light

Ever felt like where you live is having an impact on your mental health? Turns out, you’re not imagining things. Our new analysis[1] of eight years of data from the New Zeal...

Going Off the Beaten Path? Here's How to Power Up Without the Grid

There’s something incredibly freeing about heading off the beaten path. No traffic, no crowded campsites, no glowing screens in every direction — just you, the landscape, and the...

West HQ is bringing in a season of culinary celebration this July

Western Sydney’s leading entertainment and lifestyle precinct is bringing the fire this July and not just in the kitchen. From $29 lobster feasts and award-winning Asian banque...

What Endo Took and What It Gave Me

From pain to purpose: how one woman turned endometriosis into a movement After years of misdiagnosis, hormone chaos, and major surgery, Jo Barry was done being dismissed. What beg...

Why Parents Must Break the Silence on Money and Start Teaching Financial Skills at Home

Australia’s financial literacy rates are in decline, and our kids are paying the price. Certified Money Coach and Financial Educator Sandra McGuire, who has over 20 years’ exp...

Australia’s Grill’d Transforms Operations with Qlik

Boosting Burgers and Business Clean, connected data powers real-time insights, smarter staffing, and standout customer experiences Sydney, Australia, 14 July 2025 – Qlik®, a g...