by Alex Billington
April 24, 2026
Source: YouTube
“Am I in the present or the past?” An alluring first look trailer has debuted for the new film from director Kogonada titled simply Zi, an enchanting journey around Hong Kong. This project was filmed in secret by a small crew darting around Hong Kong before premiering at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival earlier this year. Zi reunites Kogonada with actress Haley Lu Richardson after filming Columbus and After Yang with her. In Hong Kong, a young woman haunted by visions of her future self meets a stranger who changes the course of her night—and possibly her life. The film stars Michelle Mao, Haley Lu Richardson, and Jin Ha. It received mixed reviews at Sundance, with some critics saying it’s a bit too meandering and messy, while others were taken by its dream-like vibes. Sundance states that the film “crafts a decidedly contained film, exploring a pervasive sense of unmooring, yet cultivating an unrelenting sense of peace.” Worth a look.
Here’s the first official trailer (+ poster) for Kogonada’s film Zi, direct from YouTube (via TFS):
Intro via Sundance: “In Hong Kong, a young woman haunted by visions of her future self meets a stranger who changes the course of her night—and possibly her life. Kogonada plays with, and returns to, form in this sensitive cinematic poem. Held within a stylish jaunt through the streets of Hong Kong, zi is a film with soul and a wavelike confidence that commits to recursivity as a mode and central theme. Kogonada regulars Michelle Mao, Haley Lu Richardson, and Jin Ha carefully portray transitory misfits, grappling with a clever fusion of existential anxiety, romantic misgiving, and personal memory.” Zi is written and directed and edited by acclaimed Korean-American filmmaker Kogonada, director of the films Columbus, After Yang, and A Big Bold Beautiful Journey previously, plus eps of “Pachinko” and “The Acolyte” series. It’s produced by Chung An, Christopher Radcliff, Benjamin Loeb, Kogonada, Haley Lu Richardson, Michelle Mao, Jin Ha. This initially premiered at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival earlier this year. It’s next showing at the Museum of the Moving Image’s First Look 2026. No release date is setup yet – stay tuned. Intrigued?
