The feature length film, ‘June’, will be shot in New York and will also star Chinese actress Miao Miao.
Aaron Kwok will be soon channelling his own experience of fatherhood into a new film, June. The award-winning Hong Kong actor and veteran entertainer, whose daughter Chant was born last year, is playing the role of a father in the suspense drama. The production was announced at the Cannes International Film Festival on May 9.
The film, which will be shot in New York, follows Charles Bao (played by Kwok) and his daughter Xiao Qun (played by Chinese actress Miao Miao) who live in the city’s Chinatown. As aspiring cellist Xiao Qun prepares to enter a life-changing music competition, she discovers a secret about her loving father, and her life begins to unravel.
US-based Chinese filmmaker Wang Yang will direct June – her first feature-length film.
The script for June, adapted from Wang’s award-winning short film The Little Violinist, competed in the prestigious 2016 Academy Nicholl Fellowships and was a second-rounder in the Sundance Screenwriters Lab competition.
Kwok said at the press conference in Cannes that he was deeply drawn to the story of the father and his daughter. He is also keen to support young filmmakers like Wang.
Kwok has played many notable roles, such as that of Detective Chong in the thriller film Port of Call, for which he earned Best Actor Award at the 2016 Hong Kong Film Awards. He also made a memorable impact in his role as a father in Patrick Tam’s 2006 drama After This Our Exile, for which he was recognised as Best Leading Actor at the Golden Horse Film Festival.
The leading lady in June, Miao Miao, shot to fame after starring in Feng Xiaogang’s coming-of-age drama Youth last year. Before stumbling into acting, Miao – a graduate of Beijing Dance Academy – was a professional dancer.
The film will be produced by Tianying Media.
–This article originally appeared on South China Morning Post STYLE.