The documentary “Because of You Ka Kui,” which chronicles the life of the late Beyond frontman Wong Ka Kui, has been selected to open the sixth edition of the U.K.’s Odyssey Film Festival. The non-governmental organization U.K.-China Film Collab has also agreed to handle local distribution for the Hong Kong film.
Negotiations for the project commenced in March during the Filmart market in Hong Kong, where U.K.-China Film Collab participated alongside the U.K. Film Pavilion. This follows a successful strategy employed the previous year with Robin Lee’s documentary “Four Trails,” which similarly opened the Odyssey festival before securing wider cinema release in 2025.
Directed by Hong Kong filmmaker Rosa Pang, the film explores the legacy of Wong, the singer-songwriter who fundamentally shaped Beyond and influenced generations of Cantonese-speaking audiences across Hong Kong and beyond. Producers include Yip Sai Wing, a founding member of the band, and Leslie Chan, the manager credited with discovering the group.
The documentary features interviews with individuals who knew Wong personally and professionally, complemented by rare concert footage and previously unreleased archival material. It traces Wong’s journey from his early musical endeavors through Beyond’s rise, examining his artistic approach, character, and ideals. Pang and Chan described the project as an effort to rediscover the real Wong Ka Kui through the memories of those who knew him best.
Wong died in an accident in Japan in 1993 at the age of 31, yet the band’s music continues to attract new listeners. The film also holds a direct connection to the United Kingdom, as an interview with Beyond founding member William Tang was filmed in London.
Following an earlier theatrical run in Asia, the movie will make its U.K. premiere as the opening night selection. The festival is scheduled to run from September 28 to October 10 across various cinemas and online platforms, with this year’s theme centered on fashion.
“Beyond did not simply follow the fashion of their generation; in many ways, they helped create it, much like Oasis did for the U.K.,” said Hiu Man Chan, the artistic director of Odyssey and founder of U.K.-China Film Collab. “Their music, image, attitude, and style became part of the cultural memory of Hong Kong and influenced generations across Asia. Fashion is not only about what an era wears; it is also about how a generation chooses to see and express itself. That makes ‘Because of You Ka Kui’ a very meaningful film to launch this year’s Odyssey.”
Hiu Man Chan emphasized that the selection aligns with the festival’s goal of exploring how film, music, visual identity, and pop culture intersect, extending the fashion theme to encompass youth culture and music. Yip Sai Wing noted that the documentary offers a rare opportunity to understand the “ordinary person” behind the band leader and icon.
Malaysian company Abnormal Studios launched the film internationally at Filmart in March as the flagship title for its new international sales arm. Pang stated that the film is not merely about nostalgia, arguing that the honesty of Wong’s thoughts and beliefs continues to resonate today. Leslie Chan added that the interviews provided a renewed sense of familiarity with Wong.
The sixth edition of Odyssey will program a mix of classic and contemporary films. The opening and portions of the festival program receive support from the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in London.
Comparing them to Oasis is bold but fair! The fashion angle adds a fresh layer to what is essentially a music legacy film.
Beyond’s influence on HK culture is massive. Glad this documentary finally reaches a UK audience for proper discovery.