In the latest twist to the controversy over a planned screening of To My Nineteen-Year-Old Self at Italy's Far East Film Festival, Ying Wa Girls’ School supervisor Reverend Eric So Shing-yit has accused director Mabel Cheung Yuen-ting and distributor Golden Scene of defaming principal Tiffany Chuk's integrity. So wrote to students on Monday clarifying facts after Golden Scene announced the screening's cancellation.
The dispute escalated after the award-winning documentary—pulled from Hong Kong cinemas in 2023 over interviewee consent issues and recently announced for the Far East Film Festival in Udine, Italy (April 24-May 2), despite opposition from at least one subject, Ah Ling—was set for an 'out of competition' slot.
In a letter to students, So defended Chuk, stating the school board has 'absolute confidence' in her leadership. He detailed a February 26 meeting where Chuk allegedly clearly told Cheung and a Golden Scene representative that 'the school did not agree to, nor support, any form of screening until the school has obtained the consent of all major participants'.
So accused Cheung and Golden Scene of issuing statements 'inconsistent with the facts' and 'blatantly lying' about the principal—charges that placed her in an 'unjust position'. This follows Golden Scene's announcement cancelling the screening.