Fighting Spirit 2025 will take place at the Hackney Picturehouse, see below for the schedule.
SCHEDULE
FRIDAY 12TH SEPTEMBER
6.00PM - “Break-Fu” Workshop with Nathan Geering
Have fun learning Nathan’s unique style of breakdance and Kung Fu! This will take place at the Tottenham Community Sports Centre. To book a space, email Esmond.tcsc@outlook.com
SATURDAY 7TH SEPTEMBER
10.45AM - Short Films in Competition Part 1 (18)
In our Short Films Screening we will be showing a mix of fiction and documentaries, all produced by film makers from around the world. Whether you like traditional kung fu, modern hard hitting action, or real life stories, there will be something for you! The films in this section will be: Someone Lied On The Roommate Form, Beyond Reality, Sheathed, My Violin My Serenity, Black Rose, Max Sierra, Janet, Way To The World Shaolin Games Finals 2024, Playin’ Around, Aggrieved, NYX, Wukong Couriers, Dakota Stone, Chakravyuh - Prologue, A Tribute To Richard Norton.
2.40PM - Project Sifu (18): A short film and documentary directed by Wayne Wong
Amid rising concerns over youth violence in the UK, Project Sifu follows a unique pilot initiative that merges martial arts training with action filmmaking to empower young people through creativity, discipline, and cultural exchange. Set in Sheffield and co-created by film scholar Dr. Wayne Wong and Fighting Spirit Film Festival founder Soo Cole, the project brings together a diverse group of students—many with no prior martial arts or filmmaking experience.
Over 12 weeks, participants learn techniques ranging from Wing Chun to cinematic choreography, supported by a team of industry professionals. Through physical training, stunt practice, film production, and reflections on cultural identity, Project Sifu documents their personal transformations and the creation of their own short action film. It is both a celebration of martial arts cinema and a heartfelt exploration of confidence-building, cross-cultural dialogue, and the joy of collaborative learning.
This is a free screening.
4.25PM - 四十九 - SEEK (18)
Fighting Spirit regulars will remember SEEK showing up as a short film entry in our 2024 edition — an exciting and stylish short, with an excellent visual aesthetic. We’re now happy to introduce SEEK as a complete feature project by first time director Shane Kosugi.
Set in contemporary Japan, where legendary Ninjas are thought to have disappeared, SEEK centres around Kyohei Aizawa, an assassin for a covert non-governmental espionage group called "四十九" or "SEEK". Grieving over the loss of his girlfriend, Kyohei is approached by SEEK leader Ryo Mikumo – the emergency mission is to save a fellow agent, recover a new highly explosive liquid called “RDX@“ and stop ruthless Yakuza leader Sojiro Kotsuki and his gang before they take over Japan.
First time feature director Shane Kosugi delivers a thrilling and unique action drama set in a world of Ninja traditions and deadly Yakuza gangsters. And yes, it should be noted that the Los Angeles born director is the son of Ninja film legend Sho Kosugi – so expect a high standard of swift, sleek and stylish action throughout.
6.40PM - Operation Condor: The Armour of God II (1991)
The sequel to Armour of God — the seminal Hong Kong action classic which premiered in Japan in 1985 (when a peak Jackie Chan was enjoying superstar status there) and showcased at FSFF 2021. Condor sees the long awaited return of Jackie’s take on an Indiana Jones stye hero, the Asian Hawk, a renowned daredevil adventurer and finder of lost relics. In this new adventure, Hawk becomes entwined in the search for missing Nazi gold, buried deep in an abandoned German military base in the Sahara Desert.
Building on Part I, Operation Condor is a lavish, internationally shot adventure which takes the series to new levels of action; with huge set-pieces and broader, less esoteric comedy for a wider international audience. Over a year in production, the film was epic by typical Hong Kong standards of the day, and went hugely over time and budget, resulting in Jackie taking a backseat from directing for the next few years.
Operation Condor will forever be known as the sequel to the film that almost killed Jackie Chan early in production. More than that, the accident filming Armour of God in former Yugoslavia in 1984 caused Jackie to take a well earned break from his relentless early fame schedule and take a fresh look at his own personal style. The completed Armour of God stands out as a fresh volley of action set-pieces and Operation Condor builds upon it.
Presented in a new restoration from a 4K master by 88 Films.
9.00PM - Blade (18)
Originally released in 1998, 'Blade' stood out immediately from the usual comic book adaptations and quickly became a cult classic. It was Marvel's first successful film, and spawned two sequels that were also commercial successes.
The title character Blade grows up to become a vampire hunter, swearing vengeance on the creatures that killed his mother. He teams up with a man called Whistler, a retired vampire hunter and weapons expert. Meanwhile, in the urban underworld, a feud is started between "pure-blood" vampires and those who had been human, but were "turned". Blade becomes aware of this and investigates further, uncovering a plot to raise the blood god La Magra, something he must stop at all costs.
Presented from a new 4K restoration, this classic remains as a seminal comic book film, and one of Snipes' most iconic roles.
This film will be preceeded by the short film “The Scarlet Ghost”
SUNDAY 14TH SEPTEMBER
11.00AM - Short Films In Competition Part 2 (18)
In our Short Films Screening we will be showing a mix of fiction and documentaries, all produced by film makers from around the world. Whether you like traditional kung fu, modern hard hitting action, or real life stories, there will be something for you! The films in this section will be: Dangerous Delivery, What It Takes, Beyond The Line, Penance, Talk Talk - Painting Talk, Flora, Bande Originale, Fight Camp: Love, Sweat, and Hunger, The Saviour, Kizuna: The Samurai’s Legacy, Ocean Whisperer, Killer 11, Father’s Day, The Protector, Our Last Scar, Saskia, The Hong Kong Action Years.
3.10PM - Super Courier (18)
Kazakh actor and producer Timur Baktybayev made an impression in 2024 with his debut film 'Kung Fu Rookie', an exciting tribute to Jackie Chan and Hong Kong cinema. Now he returns with his second film 'Super Courier' - another action packed film that brings more Hong Kong styled martial arts action and a generous dose of comedy.
In the film Timur is a good-hearted food delivery courier who, after stopping some thugs from assaulting a respected judge, gets hired as the bodyguard for Sabina, the judge’s daughter. When a powerful enemy of the judge decides to kidnap Sabina, Timur must let go of fear and become a hero to protect her.
In partnership with director Olzhas Ibraev, Baktybayev ups the ante in this feature, bringing bone breaking stunts, extended fight scenes, and a generous dose of comedy in this good hearted feature from Kazahkstan.
This film will be preceded by the short film “Tiger Cop”
5.40PM - Kung Fu Games (15) + Q&A with Mark Strange
Martial arts cinema has experienced a resurgence recently, with Tiger Style Media being one of the companies aiming to be at the forefront of this. Founded by producer Shannon McIntosh (Once Upon A Time In Hollywood, The Hateful Eight) and Daniel Gross (Halloween: Resurrection, Highlander:End Game), Tiger Style Media aims to revive classic English Language Martial Arts films in a modern setting. 'Kung Fu Games' was one of a quartet of films that Tiger Style released in 2024, paired with 'Lady Scorpions' in a limited US cinema run.
In this action-packed thriller starring British actor Mark Strange (Deadpool & Wolverine, Redcon-1), world champion martial artist Caitlin Dechelle (Wonder Woman, The Mandalorian), and three-time Wushu/Kung Fu world champion Jade Xu (Black Widow, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings), a group of renowned but notorious fighters find themselves ensnared in a deadly martial arts game show orchestrated by a powerful magnate with a thirst for violence. Armed only with their elite hand-to-hand combat skills, each battle pits the contestants in a brutal broadcasted fight for survival, where advancing means eliminating the competition in a kill or be killed showdown.
Evoking memories of grind-house cinema double bills, 'Kung Fu Games' is a standout from Tiger Media Style and a welcome new entrant into the genre.
This feature will be accompanied by an introduction and Q&A with the lead actor Mark Strange.
8.00PM - Short Film Awards Ceremony
8.40PM - Gunner (15)
Best known for reviving the 'Kickboxer' franchise, director Dimitri Logothetis' presents his latest film 'Gunner', a new action vehicle starring Luke Hemsworth and Morgan Freeman.
Special forces veteran Colonel Lee Gunner returned home from the war in Gunner. Determined to reconnect with his family, he takes his sons and his brother in law Jon on a camping trip. However, things take a dark turn when they stumble across a massive drug operation that ends with Gunner's family being kidnapped. Gunner then embarks on a one man quest to save them, and stops at nothing along the way.
Logethetis' knows exactly what his audience wants here, delivering pulsating action design on a limited budget. Firefights, hand to hand combat, and some death defying stunts underline make this an exciting entrant into the one man wrecking machine genre.
This film will be preceded by the short film 99 Percent.