It’s the last month of 2020. So much, and so little, has happened.
As I sit in my living room, gobbling down what’s left of my frozen shiu mai, I deliberately choose to see less of the real outside world. Whatever hard news that comes into the stuvvz inbox, it is still coated by an email, of which I retain the control to click open or delete. This email, however, has inspired me to (perhaps) give this crazy world a second chance.
Kat Lo, a name that most of us Hong Kongers did not recall until the cabin crew incident, is now a local icon for progressiveness and advocacy amongst the young generation. As the founder of Eaton Workshop, she has undoubtedly brought a lot of positive, new energy to the hotel name.
My approach to creating Eaton Workshop is informed by my formative years working in the world of grassroots organizing. Many of the social movements at that time were profoundly influenced by the 1994 Zapatista movement for indigenous liberation in Chiapas, Mexico. One lesson from the Zapatistas that has stayed with me is that words are our truest weapons in the struggle for liberation for all.
Kat Lo
Happening throughout this weekend from December 3 to 7, 2020, Eaton Workshop is presenting Another World is Possible (AWIP), “an impact-driven multimedia festival exploring diverse narratives of existence and resistance, beginning from the belief that personal, political and creative liberation are intricately interconnected.”
This virtual gathering features 14 short films and one feature-length documentary, covering topics on climate change, emotional personal stories, the Native American community, the LGBTQ+ movement, art, Argentina in the 1990s, nature, Hong Kong, and more. On top of the films themselves, panelists, musicians, and DJs are also involved. Their unique expressions through the various formats of “indie media” transforms them into a driving force that liberates the deeper truths of our society and pushes for positive changes.
I think what makes this event so interesting is that all of the elements came from the passions of Kat Lo, a person who a lot of us find aspirational. Her passion for grassroots organizing, underground music, and independent media has brought to the town a collection of talking points and rich edutainment, in a fashion that I feel caters very well to the underlying conservatism of the general public. I do not doubt a lot of people in Hong Kong also believes another world is possible, but finding those who are openly vocal on the matters may not be as easy as one presumes. The Eaton Workshop has successfully opened up a lovely outlet for ideas that may be challenging for some but quietly shared by many.
Register or Learn more about the festival here.