A chronicle of the grassroots effort to save the iconic State Theatre in North Point from demolition. This evocative documentary is also a deep dive into the eyeopening story of Harry Odell, the theatre’s founder and Hong Kong’s first impresario, who brought Xavier Cugat, Isaac Stern, and other legendary musical figures to the city. Rich with local history, the story of the State Theatre and Harry Odell is a celebration of Hong Kong’s dynamic culture and indomitable spirit.

About the Directors Dora Choi and Haider Kikabhoy:

Dora has been a news feature and documentary director in mainstream media for more than 10 years, focusing on politics and social affairs. She co-founded cultural enterprise Walk in Hong Kong.

“One interviewer in the film said that Hong Kong was experiencing first love in the 1950s, just as this documentary is a love letter to my homeland.”

Haider as a fourth-generation Hongkonger with family roots in Mumbai and Guangdong’s Kaiping, he co-founded cultural enterprise Walk in Hong Kong. He was formerly a human rights campaigner and an academic researcher on Hong Kong’s architectural history.

“To Be Continued” is his first documentary film. “Hollywood Road was the stage of my childhood memories: the stone steps, steep lanes, antique dealers and the smell of cumin in the air. I also grew up listening to the tales my mother told about lost theatres in Yau Ma Tei – this planted in me a fascination with the forgotten stories of old Hong Kong. Through the legendary story of Harry Odell, I hope to rediscover the spirit of this land with you.”

For more information, please refer to the attached PDF 

DATE: Wednesday, May 07, 2025

TIME: 18:30 – 20:30

LOCATION: MediaLab of the Faculty of Philology and Cultural Studies, UZA 2, Rotunde,
Stiege H, Ebene 1&3, Josef-Holaubek- Platz 2, 1090 Vienna