The 50th Hong Kong International Film Festival will open on April 1 with Anthony Chen's 'We Are All Strangers' and close on April 12 with Philip Yung's 'Cyclone'. The event features 215 films from 71 countries and regions, including numerous premieres. It also highlights filmmaker Jia Zhangke and includes special performances of Wong Kar-wai's 'In the Mood for Love'.
The Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF) marks its 50th edition from April 1 to 12 under the theme '50 and Beyond: Framing the Future'. Anthony Chen's 'We Are All Strangers', the concluding chapter of his Growing Up trilogy, will open the festival at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre. The film stars Yeo Yann Yann and Koh Jia Ler and explores family and belonging beyond blood ties. It recently became the first Singaporean film to compete in the main section of the Berlin Film Festival, where it had its world premiere.
Philip Yung's 'Cyclone' will close the festival, marking its Asian debut after a world premiere at the International Film Festival Rotterdam. Starring Liu Yuqiao, Edwynn Li, and Jenny Suen, the film centers on transgender identity and social exclusion.
The lineup includes 215 films from 71 countries and regions, with 11 world premieres, four international premieres, and 49 Asian premieres. Jia Zhangke serves as the Filmmaker in Focus. Attending filmmakers include Juliette Binoche, Chen Kaige, Tian Zhuangzhuang, Huang Jianxin, Ann Hui, Tsai Ming-Liang, Ildikó Enyedi, Pen-ek Ratanaruang, Edwin, and Ben Rivers.
For the golden jubilee, Asian visionary ambassadors are Taiwanese actress Gingle Wang, winner of the Best Lead Actress at the 22nd Taipei Film Festival, and Thai actor Metawin Opasiamkajorn, recipient of the 2024 Asian Rising Star Award. They join festival ambassadors Angela Yuen and Tony Wu.
Special events include three sold-out performances of 'In the Mood for Love – In Concert', featuring live accompaniment by the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra for Wong Kar-wai's classic film. A free exhibition, '50 and Beyond: The Hong Kong International Film Festival Golden Jubilee Exhibition', will run at Hong Kong City Hall, showcasing archival materials and photographs.
The Young Cinema Competition features eight Chinese-language titles, including Singapore's 'Ah Girl' by Ang Geck Geck Priscilla and 'Amoeba' by Tan Siyou, and winners from other festivals. The World section includes eight films, such as 'Rose' by Markus Schleinzer, which won Best Lead Performance for Sandra Hüller at Berlin, and 'Variations On A Theme' by Jason Jacobs and Devon Delmar, a Tiger Award winner at Rotterdam.