Chanel's Culture Fund has launched an ambitious initiative aimed at celebrating and preserving the rich history of Asian cinema. This project, focusing on film restoration, experimental initiatives, and cultural interaction in Hong Kong and Thailand, seeks to bridge tradition and innovation with the support of renowned figures like Tilda Swinton and Apichatpong Weerasethakul.
In collaboration with the M+ museum, Chanel is restoring nine seminal films from the Hong Kong New Wave movement. Under the guidance of Silke Schmickl, the restoration includes celebrated works such as T'ang Shushuen's The Arch (1968) and Patrick Tam's Love Massacre (1981). These films are set to premiere at major international film festivals in 2025, marking a significant milestone in preserving the region's cinematic heritage.
In Thailand, Weerasethakul's A Conversation with the Sun (VR) will premiere at the Bangkok Experimental Film Festival. This innovative work, featuring a score by the late Ryuichi Sakamoto, challenges traditional cinema by focusing on light and impermanence.
The initiative also includes M+ Rediscoveries, showcasing restored classics, and the Asian Avant-Garde Film Festival. Yana Peel, Chanel's global head of arts and culture, emphasized the project’s significance in bridging the region's analogue roots with its digital future.