Why Restoration Matters? A Conversation with Tilda Swinton and T’ang Shushuen

EVENT DESCRIPTION

M+, Asia’s global museum of contemporary visual culture in the West Kowloon Cultural District (WestK) in Hong Kong, is pleased to announce ‘Why Restoration Matters? A Conversation with Tilda Swinton and T’ang Shushuen’, featuring actor Tilda Swinton and one of Hong Kong’s earliest female auteurs T’ang Shushuen on the importance of film heritage and innovation in cinema.

Moderated by Silke Schmickl, CHANEL Lead Curator, Moving Image, M+, the conversation will take place at the museum’s Grand Stair from 19:30 to 20:45 on Tuesday, 21 January 2025. Registration will be available starting Monday, 13 January 2025. M+ Patrons, Affiliates, and Members can enjoy priority registration from Friday, 10 January to Sunday, 12 January 2025. 

The collaboration between CHANEL and M+ nurtures film appreciation and creation—including the promotion of local Hong Kong cinema—and is significant for the developing moving images in Asia and beyond.

T’ang Shushuen is a Hong Kong director whose internationally acclaimed debut film, The Arch (1969), was the first self-funded and independently released film in Hong Kong. T’ang went on to direct three more films: China Behind (1974), Sup Sap Bup Dup (1975), and The Hong Kong Tycoon (1979).

Tilda Swinton is universally acknowledged as a distinguished actor with extraordinary versatility and range. She has masterfully balanced roles in independent films and international blockbusters. Her illustrious career includes early arthouse collaborations and award-winning performances, including an Academy Award and a British Academy Film and Television Award (BAFTA). Beyond her acting accomplishments, Swinton is also a passionate advocate for film restoration and preservation.

At the upcoming M+ event, T’ang and Swinton will emphasise the transformative power of film and filmmaking as they share their journeys as filmmakers, spectators, and passionate advocates for cinema. The conversation will focus on the philosophical significance of film heritage and restoration, highlighting the delicate balance between preserving history and embracing innovation. Additionally, the speakers will address the importance of Asian cinema and women’s vital contributions of women to film history. 

As M+’s Major Partner, CHANEL supports the museum’s moving image initiatives. This collaboration began in 2022 with ‘Women Make Film’, a seven-part documentary co-produced and narrated by Tilda Swinton, as one of M+ Cinema’s inaugural programmes. The course featured educational film classes and highlighted T’ang’s renowned film, The Arch (1969). In July 2023, the collaboration evolved into a comprehensive three-year partnership that includes ‘M+ Restored’, a film restoration programme to preserve Hong Kong’s rich cinematic heritage.  With CHANEL’s support, M+ will be restoring nine Hong Kong films to be shared with international audiences, affirming both partners’ dedication to empowering creative and critical thinking and contributing developing moving images in Asia and beyond.

The conversation is supported by M+’s Major Partner, CHANEL.