Photo Credit: Josie Ho
The premiere of MOViE MOViE Dream Home (International Version) took place on January 20 at MOViE MOViE Cityplaza in Tai Koo, marking a key milestone as the film celebrates its 15th anniversary and returns to Hong Kong cinemas in an expanded limited theatrical release. Josie Ho, who stars in and produced the project, attended the event alongside producer Conroy Chan and emerging talent Iman Taheri.
The screening drew strong industry support, including collaborators from across Josie’s broader filmography. Members of the FULL STRIKE team were in attendance, among them directors Derek Kwok and Henri Wong, actors Andrew Lam Man-chung and Susan Shaw Yam-Yam, and composer Yusuke Hatano. The event also welcomed filmmakers such as Fruit Chan, Eric Tsang, Kyle Shum, and Jonas Cheung, alongside distinguished guests including Dr. Fiona Law from the University of Hong Kong and Tessa Lau, CEO of Broadway Circuit and Edko Films.
The premiere coincided with MOViE MOViE’s “Filmmaker In Focus” program, showcasing six key works from Josie Ho’s career across the channel and its cinema platform. Since founding 852 Films in 2006, Josie has remained a prominent presence in the industry as an actor, producer, and investor, spanning local Hong Kong productions, pan-Asian projects, and international titles. Supported by 852 Films and academic partners at HKU, the program frames Josie as a filmmaker whose work carries cultural weight beyond its surface shock.
At the event, Phoebe Chiu, Director of MOViE MOViE, described Josie as a natural fit for the series, praising the close alignment between her film choices and the channel’s identity. Josie Ho responded with gratitude, sharing how meaningful it was to see her work recognized in this setting. Reflecting on the original release of DREAM HOME, the first film released under 852 Films, she noted that its provocative content led to a brief theatrical run and that returning the international version to cinemas now feels like long-overdue recognition.
Photo Credit: Josie Ho
Josie also revisited the DREAM HOME’s legacy as the project that earned her Best Actress at the 43rd Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival, emphasizing that her character should be understood as a socially grounded anti-heroine rather than a simple villain. Directed by Pang Ho-cheung, DREAM HOME is a 2010 Hong Kong slasher horror that combines graphic violence with a narrative rooted in the pressures of Hong Kong’s housing market, using the city’s real estate obsession as its terrifying premise. The story follows Cheng Lai-sheung, whose desperation over impossible property prices leads her to a brutal attempt to crash the market.
The celebration offered behind-the-scenes insight into the film’s production. Josie Ho described the extensive use of fake blood from the U.S., selected for both realism and practicality. Chan shared a darkly comedic anecdote from the shoot, recalling the unpleasant task of preparing pig intestines for a key scene. Taheri, meanwhile, reflected on his first viewing of the film, noting that its intensity has not diminished and that its themes remain strikingly relevant.
DREAM HOME (International Version) is now screening in select cinemas, with additional screenings added in response to demand.
Disclaimer: Written in partnership with APG.
