Vicci Ho kind of fell into film festival programming but has since arranged the line ups for festivals all around the world, from Toronto to Zurich.
Now she's based in Wellington and a key part of the New Zealand International Film Festival which launches later this month.
Trailer: When a City Rises, showing at the 2021 NZIFF
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Vicci Ho was born in Hong Kong but brought up in Australia after her family moved there in the early 1990s.
As a child all she wanted to do was direct movies, but she quickly discovered the reality didn't live up to the dream.
"I set foot on one film set and I was so stressed I never went back," she said.
After completing a degree in film theory and history she returned to Hong Kong and fell into festival programming.
"I did not think that was something someone could do," said Ho, "A friend was just like, Can you help out? And then next thing I know she said; 'So here's the Lesbian and Gay Film Festival, can you just take over because I have to move to Taiwan?' and I was like; 'OK'."
Midnight is a Korean thriller showing in the 2021 New Zealand International Film Festival Photo: Supplied
Film festival programming has taken her around the world but it's a job that's hard to describe. Ho said people are often amazed she gets paid to sit around and watch movies.
"I have to try and explain to them [that] I watch maybe four or five hundred movies sometimes a year. Then they're like; 'Oh, OK, so it's not just eating popcorn and watching like Star Wars'."
Programming films from Hong Kong this year, has also felt more important than ever for Ho.
"I truly don't know how much people know about how bad it's gotten," she said, "I'm not sure people knew about the crackdown on trade unions, student unions. Censorship in film has been brought in."
"It's important to support the arts and the filmmakers while they are able to make films. We truly don't know how much longer this will be allowed."
When a City Rises is a documentary about the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong Photo: Supplied
Ho said a recent trailer she watched ended by saying the film would not be shown in Hong Kong.
"That's where Hong Kong is at right now, which is a tragedy, really, because there's just so much talent there. There's so many great filmmakers," she said.
Vicci Ho said she worries more about whether a film is good, than about how it reflects a culture.
"Sometimes there are films that are important, but maybe just not quite there. I might say no to something like that. But first and foremost, it's a film festival. We want the audience to enjoy the experience. We want them to think about the films we've chosen," said Ho.
"I generally think a good film will show that anyway. A good film would be able to showcase something unique about their culture without being explicit."
Hand Rolled Cigarette showcases South Asian immigrants in Hong Kong Photo: Supplied
She said, for example, when people think about Hong Kong films they think about crime or action films but there's so much more to Hong Kong cinema.
One of the Hong Kong films in this year's line up is a thriller, but it's also about the South Asian immigrants who live there.
"They almost never get showcased and they are a huge part of Hong Kong," said Ho, "So I'm really glad that we get to see that this year."
She said there is something for everyone in this year's Chinese/East Asian Cinema line up.
"I'm really happy with all the films I programmed. There’s a bit of everything."
Drive My Car is Japan's selection for the Oscars this year. Photo: Supplied
When pushed for recommendations, Ho suggested:
Japanese films Drive My Car and Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy.
"Drive My Car’s actually Japan's selection for the Oscars this year," she said.
In Front of Your Face by Korean filmmaker Hong Sangsoo is also high on her list.
"[He's] a bit of a cult figure cult favourite in the festival circuit. It's a very good Hong Sang-soo. There's so much being discussed about life and regret, and oh, it's so good. I can't even express how much I love that movie." said Ho.
In Front of Your Face is a classic Hong Sang-soo offering. Photo: Supplied
Or there's the Korean thriller Midnight.
"It's a first time film maker and it’s really impressive for a debut," she said.
There are films from China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea and one set in Colombia by a well-known Thai director.
The New Zealand International Film Festival opens in Wellington on October 29, Christchurch on November 4 and the rest of the country on November 5. Except Auckland, which has had to be cancelled due to the lockdown and strict screening rights means there won't be any online offering.
"I'm devastated," said Ho, "We worked so hard to try and make it happen, but there's only so much we can control."
