Cinematography & Video Production Support: Nikolas Mui
Location: Studio 9
🎤 In this special interview, JLAU is delighted to welcome Ridley Tsui, producer of Finch & Midland, to share the story behind the making of this heartfelt film.
The film is officially set to premiere on February 13 in multiple cities across Canada, giving audiences the long-awaited opportunity to experience this emotional Cantonese-language production on the big screen.
During the conversation, Ridley reflects on the original inspiration for the project. Set against the backdrop of the immigration wave of the 1990s, Finch & Midland presents four standalone stories that take place in Toronto, each exploring the struggles of immigrant life, the complexities of family relationships, and the quiet emotional distance that can exist between people.
Ridley also reveals the deeper meaning behind the film’s Chinese title, which originally carried a question mark—raising a thought-provoking reflection: in an era of advanced technology and modern progress, are we truly “supposed” to feel happy?
He speaks candidly about the challenges of production, sharing how the film took five years of preparation and perseverance, with many moments where he nearly gave up while traveling between Hong Kong and Canada to secure funding and coordinate cast schedules.
Towards the end of the interview, Ridley expresses his hope of using Canada’s film industry platform to nurture new talent and help bring more Cantonese-language cinema to the world stage.
✨ A meaningful and in-depth conversation that uncovers the genuine emotions and determination behind Finch & Midland.