TORONTO, March 11, 2004 -- A film that quietly follows the mundane lives of two people with a minimal amount of dialogue may not, at first glance, have the look of a box office winner. However, York University film student Gilbert Kwong has done a lot better than any studio boss could ever imagine possible, judging by the response of the independent film community.

His short dramatic film, A Moth and A Butterfly, which explores frustrated love, repressed desire and boredom between two gay brothers from Hong Kong who reunite in Toronto, has earned an impressive list of invitations, screenings and awards ever since its premiere last summer at the Locarno Film Festival, Switzerland.

Kwong was subbsequently invited to show his film at the Poznan Film Festival (Poland, 2003). It was also selected for the Brno 16 Competition of Fiction Films (Czech Republic, 2003), where it won a Bronze Medal Award; Marco Island Film Festival (USA, 2003), where it was a finalist in the student competition category; and Hong Kong Independent Film & Video Awards (China, 2004), where it received the Distinguished Award. This April, A Moth and A Butterfly will be screened at Toronto’s ReelWorld Film Festival and the Turin International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, Italy.

Challenging the status quo, Kwong said, "It is not so much what the two characters say to each other as what they don’t or can’t say, that makes the film resonate with tension and simmering emotion. Instead of being driven by plot, the story events are organized in a rhythmical structure comparable to those of poetry and painting."

Before turning to filmmaking, Kwong worked as an advertising photographer and a news cameraman. He is currently completing his MFA degree in the Graduate Program in Film & Video at York University, while also working as a technician in the department.

A Moth and A Butterfly was written, directed, edited and produced by Kwong. Filmed in 16mm and mastered on HDcam (24p), the 40-minute production is in Cantonese and English with English subtitles.

Production Credits

Principal Cast Teddy Wong      (As Older Brother)
Jason Chan                            (As Younger Brother)
Writer/Producer/Director          Gilbert Kwong
Cinematography                      Jurek Osterfeld
                                             Gilbert Kwong
Production Designer                Mimi Li
Editor                                     Gilbert Kwong
Sound                                    Andrew Solomon
Original Music                        Andrew Solomon

 For more information about the film and its upcoming screenings, call 416-274-9687 or e-mail gilbertkwong@hotmail.com.

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