Project Sifu and Martial Arts Ecology

This event brings together visual storytelling and scholarly reflection through a documentary screening followed by a book talk.

Project Sifu, launched in Sheffield and funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), explores how martial arts cinema supports Hong Kong diasporic identity, resilience, and community. Recognised at the Fighting Spirit Film Festival in London, the 64th Session of the United Nations Commission for Social Development in New York, and UNESCO-International Centre of Martial Arts (ICM) in Seoul, the project now makes its Hong Kong debut, with Dr Wayne Wong leading a workshop on screen choreography.

Wayne’s monograph then questions what martial arts cinema is. While known for its dazzling action and emotional intensity, this book argues that martial arts cinema aspires to a deeper goal: cultivating tranquility amid conflict—a concept termed “martial ideation.” Moving beyond traditional analyses that emphasize authenticity or expressivity, the book reveals how martial arts movements embody profound intellectual meaning. By treating kung fu practices as embodied knowledge, it uncovers their tranquil philosophical essence—rooted in Confucian stability, Daoist fluidity and Buddhist sensitivity—and examines how these principles transcend physical combat to shape narratives, characters and visual storytelling. From Bruce Lee’s iconic fight scenes to modern interpretations such as The Grandmaster, Kung Fu Panda and Everything Everywhere All at Once, the book bridges philosophy and aesthetics across cinema, animation and gaming. Accessible to scholars and fans alike, this groundbreaking study positions martial arts cinema as a global, multi-media phenomenon that transcends traditional genre and cultural boundaries.

Declaration: This event constitutes a private premiere restricted exclusively to invited guests, students and faculty members of Nanyang Technological University. It is conducted solely for educational purposes, carries no admission fee, and has no age restriction. The documentary is an original production created and owned by the speaker as the rights holder.

Dr. Wayne Wong is a Lecturer in East Asian Studies at University of Sheffield. He holds a PhD in Film Studies and Comparative Literature from King’s College London and HKU. He is the author of Martial Arts Ecology: Aesthetics, Philosophy and Cinematic Mediation (Edinburgh University Press, 2026). His work has appeared in leading journals such as Asian Ethnicity, Asian Cinema, Global Media and China, Journal of Contemporary Chinese Art, and Martial Arts Studies. His current work with UK artists and community groups explores Hong Kong diasporic identity through film, exhibition, and performance.