
Give as a gift
⚠️ Subtitles Guide ⚠️
This screening includes selectable closed captions (CC) in English, French, and Italian. To turn on subtitles, please click the "CC" button at the bottom right corner of the video player and select your preferred language.
Journalists are trained to be objective, but what happens when you work under an authoritarian regime while fearing for your life? Rather Be Ashes Than Dust is a first-person documentary chronicling a journalist-filmmaker’s struggle with his conscience while witnessing intense police brutality against protesters during the 2019 Hong Kong protests.
This award-winning film captures Hong Kong’s fight for freedom through the eyes of a Journalist. Directed by Alan Lau, Rather Be Ashes Than Dust had its world premiere at the 28th Busan International Film Festival and went on to win the Best Film in Democracy on the Edge at DocEdge 2024.
This special virtual screening invites audiences to engage with this pivotal piece of history and reflect on the movement through the director’s lens.
Subtitles are available in English, Italian and French.
Please note: Screenings are not available in Japan due to distribution restrictions.
- Year2023
- Runtime114 minutes
- LanguageEnglish, Cantonese
- CountryCanada, United Kingdom, Hong Kong
- Premiere28th Busan International Film Festival
- Rating15
- GenreDocumentary
- Subtitle LanguageItalian, French, English
- Content Warningstrong real violence, threat, language
- AwardsEdge at Doc Edge 2024 - Best Film of Democracy on the Edge ; Festival del Cinema dei Diritti Umani di Napoli 2024 - Special Mention Human Rights Doc & Arrigoni-Mer Khamis special mention
- NoteScreenings are not available in Japan due to distribution restrictions.
- Social Media
- DirectorAlan Lau
- ScreenwriterIstso, Nancy Tong
- ProducerAda Kwok
- Executive ProducerNancy Tong, Alan Lau, Istso
- FilmmakerAlan Lau
- CinematographerAlan Lau, Roberto Pirelli
- EditorAlan Lau
- Production DesignLainey
- Sound DesignBilly Pleasant
⚠️ Subtitles Guide ⚠️
This screening includes selectable closed captions (CC) in English, French, and Italian. To turn on subtitles, please click the "CC" button at the bottom right corner of the video player and select your preferred language.
Journalists are trained to be objective, but what happens when you work under an authoritarian regime while fearing for your life? Rather Be Ashes Than Dust is a first-person documentary chronicling a journalist-filmmaker’s struggle with his conscience while witnessing intense police brutality against protesters during the 2019 Hong Kong protests.
This award-winning film captures Hong Kong’s fight for freedom through the eyes of a Journalist. Directed by Alan Lau, Rather Be Ashes Than Dust had its world premiere at the 28th Busan International Film Festival and went on to win the Best Film in Democracy on the Edge at DocEdge 2024.
This special virtual screening invites audiences to engage with this pivotal piece of history and reflect on the movement through the director’s lens.
Subtitles are available in English, Italian and French.
Please note: Screenings are not available in Japan due to distribution restrictions.
- Year2023
- Runtime114 minutes
- LanguageEnglish, Cantonese
- CountryCanada, United Kingdom, Hong Kong
- Premiere28th Busan International Film Festival
- Rating15
- GenreDocumentary
- Subtitle LanguageItalian, French, English
- Content Warningstrong real violence, threat, language
- AwardsEdge at Doc Edge 2024 - Best Film of Democracy on the Edge ; Festival del Cinema dei Diritti Umani di Napoli 2024 - Special Mention Human Rights Doc & Arrigoni-Mer Khamis special mention
- NoteScreenings are not available in Japan due to distribution restrictions.
- Social Media
- DirectorAlan Lau
- ScreenwriterIstso, Nancy Tong
- ProducerAda Kwok
- Executive ProducerNancy Tong, Alan Lau, Istso
- FilmmakerAlan Lau
- CinematographerAlan Lau, Roberto Pirelli
- EditorAlan Lau
- Production DesignLainey
- Sound DesignBilly Pleasant

