Documentary by JMSC’s Ruby Yang raises over $900,000 for scholarships

The gala premiere of “My Voice, My Life”, a film directed by Oscar-winning documentary maker Ruby Yang,  has raised over $900,000 for The University of Hong Kong’s First-in-the-Family Education Fund.

The documentary by Yang, who also serves as a Hung Leung Hau Ling distinguished fellow in humanities at the JMSC, follows four under-privileged Hong Kong high school students who are cast to perform in a musical, and charts the challenges and personal transformations each student faces in preparing for the show.

Professor Peter Mathieson, President and Vice-Chancellor of HKU, said at the gala that the movie reflected the goals and ethos of the education fund, which provides financial support for more than 300 first-generation university students from less-advantaged Hong Kong families each year.

“’My Voice, My Life’ witnesses some touching stories of personal transformation,” Mathieson said. “I believe the film’s message echoes well with our University’s commitment to provide all-round development for our students.”

“Ruby not only teaches at the JMSC, but also gave Hong Kong University students the opportunity to take part in the production of the documentary, which I am sure has also transformed them in the process,” he said.

The documentary was edited at the JMSC production suites from over 500 hours of raw footage by Yang, her crew, and numerous JMSC student interns. “My Voice, My Life” is now showing in commercial theatres across Hong Kong.