SAN FRANCISCO — The Richmond district’s historic Balboa Theater played host to a cinematic extravaganza last weekend, as nearly 1,500 film enthusiasts gathered for the “Heart of the Richmond: Stephen Chow Film Festival.” The three-day event, running from July 12-14, showcased seven iconic films from the acclaimed Hong Kong filmmaker.
The festival, a first-time collaboration between the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in San Francisco (HKETO), Supervisor Connie Chan’s office, Balboa Theater, and Another Planet Entertainment, offered audiences a rare opportunity to experience Chow’s unique blend of humor and creativity on the big screen.
Jacko Tsang, Director of HKETO San Francisco, emphasized the importance of cultural exchange at the opening reception. “This festival offers audiences the chance to experience the timeless classics of Chow on the big screen,” Tsang said. “We hope audiences in the San Francisco Bay area will enjoy his films with a good laugh.”
The carefully curated lineup featured Chow’s international breakthrough “Shaolin Soccer,” Golden Globe-nominated “Kung Fu Hustle,” and cult classics like “A Chinese Odyssey Part One: Pandora’s Box” and its sequel. Other selections included the family comedy “All’s Well Ends Well,” culinary drama “The God of Cookery,” and the literature parody “Flirting Scholar.”
San Francisco Supervisor Connie Chan expressed enthusiasm for bringing Chow’s work to the Richmond district. “I am excited to share these films, in their original Cantonese, with San Francisco,” Chan stated. “Bringing together film lovers and Chinese speakers to enjoy the show, help boost our small businesses, and bring community enrichment to our neighborhood.”
The opening night festivities included a traditional kung fu performance and Chinese calligraphy demonstration. The subsequent screening of “Shaolin Soccer” drew a full house, with special guests including San Francisco Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin and “Shaolin Soccer” Assistant Director Rainy Zhao in attendance.
As the festival wrapped up on Sunday, it left behind a renewed appreciation for Hong Kong cinema and Stephen Chow’s enduring legacy in the Bay Area’s cultural landscape.
