A restaurant can offer more than a meal: a livelihood, a connection to home, and a place to belong. In director Wen Muye’s 文牧野 Once Upon a Time in the Middle East《歡迎來龍餐館》, these familiar hopes take on new urgency when a Chinese chef’s fresh start abroad is interrupted by war. Starring Shen Teng 沈騰 as chef Xu Fu, the film follows a man who travels to the Middle East to repay his debts and support his family. Together with restaurant manager Ma Junsheng, he helps turn the struggling Dragon Restaurant into a flourishing business. When conflict reaches the city, however, the restaurant becomes a refuge, and Xu Fu must decide how much he is willing to risk for the community he has come to call his own.

Recognised with five Hong Kong Film Awards, Ciao UFO 《再見UFO》 arrives in Canada for special autumn screenings. Beginning with a mysterious 1985 sighting over Wah Fu Estate, the film weaves a story of youth, public housing memories, and the evolving spirit of Hong Kong—offering the diaspora a deeply resonant reflection on nostalgia and home.

Now celebrating its 35th anniversary—with a new 4K restoration rolling out in theatres promises to find new audiences and offer devoted fans a reason to revisit its riches as well as its contemporary relevance, especially with how modern celebrities are treated in the age of social media. We had the honour to sit down with Kwan to discuss the golden era of Chinese cinema, how his relationship to the film and its stars have changed, and who he wants to work with next. 

Acclaimed director Herman Yau bridges thriller tension with deep empathy in We’re Nothing At All, starring Anson Kong, ANSONBEAN, and Patrick Tam. Catch the hit Hong Kong LGBTQ+ drama in Canadian theatres this June.