The Dispute

Shortly after moving from Hong Kong to Edinburgh and settling into his student flat, filmmaker Fredie Chan discovers a clash among locals and overseas students over the massive housing shortage in Edinburgh. Developers are converting empty lots and unused old buildings into new housing stocks for international students rather than the locals. Through an empathetic and personal documentary lens, Chan befriends 91-year-old Harry, a long-time resident and community councillor, and follows a group of grassroots housing advocates in order to understand the clash and today’s global housing crisis.

  • Fredie Chan
    Director
  • Fredie Chan
    Writer
  • Fredie Chan
    Producer
  • Vijendra Bhat
    Composer and Sound Mixer
  • Alvin Tsang
    Narration and Subtitle Consultant
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short, Student
  • Runtime:
    34 minutes 2 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    February 28, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    10,000 GBP
  • Country of Origin:
    United Kingdom
  • Country of Filming:
    United Kingdom
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes - Edinburgh College of Art
  • Hong Kong Film Festival UK
    Edinburgh
    United Kingdom
    March 23, 2023
    World Premiere
    Selection
  • Hong Kong Film Festival UK
    Manchester
    United Kingdom
    March 26, 2023
    Selection
  • Hong Kong Film Festival UK
    London
    United Kingdom
    March 30, 2023
    UK Premiere
    Selection
Director Biography - Fredie Chan

Born in Hong Kong, Fredie Chan is a documentary filmmaker and teacher with 15 years experience. He received Andrew Grant PG Scholarship to study MA Film-Directing at the University of Edinburgh in 2021, and began to be involved in Living Rent, a Scottish Tenants Union, to advocated housing justice. The movement inspired him to make his first documentary film,The Dispute, in the UK to connect with nation-wide grassroots community movement

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Equality of opportunity, dignity, and respect are fundamental rights for all people, and I preserve these rights and empathy as my first principle in filmmaking.