Is Hong Kong cinema’s golden age over?

From Jackie Chan and Wong Kar-wai to the city’s gritty crime thrillers and romantic dramas, there was a time when Hong Kong cinema was everywhere.

The city was once one of Asia’s great filmmaking capitals, producing movies and stars that became cultural icons around the world. But today, that creative energy is looking increasingly hard to find.

The national security law, tighter censorship and the growing influence of mainland China have made it harder for filmmakers to tell the kinds of stories that once defined Hong Kong. And funding for movies is also drying up at the same time as the pull of Beijing is reshaping the industry.

On this episode of Asia Specific, host Mariko Oi speaks to Phoebe Kong, a video journalist with the BBC based in Hong Kong who has spoken to a slew of people from the industry. Also on the show is Jun Li, an award-winning director from the financial city who made his debut in 2018. Together, they unpack Hong Kong’s now complex movie scene and opine on where the industry is heading.

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Hear Asian perspectives on international issues and in-depth analysis on news from a region that’s home to nearly 2.5 billion people.Whether it is the latest on trade between the US and China, the rise and fall of political dynasties in Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines, or South Korea’s K-pop inspired soft power strategy, we find out what key players are thinking and dive into the stories that matter.

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Get in touch: asiaspecific@bbc.co.uk