The 50th Hong Kong International Film Festival: Golden Jubilee of Cinema

Founded in 1976, the prestigious Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF) is set to celebrate its 50th anniversary from April 1 to April 12, 2026.

With the theme “50 and Beyond: Framing the Future,” this milestone event showcases a rich legacy of films, delivering 215 films from 71 countries and regions, including 11 world premieres, 4 international premieres, and 49 Asian premieres.

Hong Kong illustrator and comic artist Siu Hak

The HKIFF50 Key Visual

The official key visual for HKIFF50 was created by Hong Kong illustrator and comic artist Siu Hak. The artwork brings to life a mesmerizing, layered cityscape that fuses elements of Hong Kong’s landscape with imaginative cinematic and futuristic touches.

The composition features rolling hills and dense urban structures, seamlessly intertwined with symbolic imagery, such as flying saucers (UFOs), launching rockets, industrial chimneys, neon-lit cinemas and film projectors. This enchanting blend captures the essence of storytelling and the art of projection, perfectly reflecting the festival’s inspirational theme of “50 and Beyond: Framing the Future.”

Angela Yuen and Tony Wu (Photo by Humphrey Ng / HKCTA)

Golden Jubilee’s Ambassadors

Local stars Angela Yuen (returning for the second time) and Tony Wu (newly appointed) serve as the official Festival Ambassadors for the Golden Jubilee edition.

Angela Yuen was a Best Actress nominee at both the Hong Kong Film Awards and the Golden Horse Awards for her lead role in The Narrow Road (2022). Tony Wu is a Hong Kong actor and former professional baseball player. He won Best New Performer award at the 36th Hong Kong Film Awards for his debut in Weeds on Fire (2016).

Asian Visionary Ambassadors Gingle Wang and Win Metawin

They are joined by Asian Visionary Ambassadors Gingle Wang and Win Metawin.

Gingle Wang is a Taiwanese actress and writer. She recently clinched the title of Best Lead Actress at the Taipei Film Festival. Thai actor Win Metawin gained widespread recognition through F4 Thailand and received the Asian Rising Star Award in 2024.

Together, the ambassadors will engage in special appearances, attend red-carpet events, and participate in conversations that aim to foster cross-cultural dialogue,  and highlight a new generation of Asian actors.

We Are All Strangers (2026), by Anthony Chen

Opening and Closing Screenings

The festival kicked off on April 1 at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre with the Asian premiere of We Are All Strangers, the latest film by Singaporean director Anthony Chen. This poignant drama, featuring performances by Yeo Yann Yann and Koh Jia Ler, marks the concluding chapter of Chen’s acclaimed Growing Up trilogy. It delves into themes of identity, displacement, and the deeply personal connections that bind us.

Cyclone (2026) by Philip Yung

The festival will draw to a close on April 12 with Cyclone (original title: 超風), a compelling Hong Kong drama directed by Philip Yung. This film tells the story of a young transgender woman from mainland China as she navigates her life in Hong Kong. Liu Yuqiao’s powerful performance brings to life the challenges of societal marginalization and the strength found in resilience.

Tony Leung Chiu-wai and Maggie Cheung, In the Mood For Love (2000) by Wong Kar-Wai

Asian Premiere of In the Mood for Love – In Concert

A major highlight is the Asian Premiere of In the Mood for Love – In Concert on April 2 and 3. The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, under conductor Joshua Tan, performs a live score to Wong Kar-wai’s 2000 masterpiece while the film screens in its entirety. Starring Tony Leung Chiu-wai and Maggie Cheung, this special presentation at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall offers three performances.

Filmmaker in Focus: Jia Zhangke

Filmmaker in Focus: Jia Zhangke

Chinese auteur Jia Zhangke takes center stage as Filmmaker in Focus. Attendees can enjoy 11 of his seminal works, spanning from early shorts like Xiao Shan Going Home (1995) and Xiao Wu (1998) to renowned features including Platform (2000), Still Life (2006), Mountains May Depart (2015), and his latest, Caught by the Tides (2024).

The retrospective also includes a special screening of Walter Salles’ documentary Jia Zhangke, A Guy from Fenyang (2014), a commemorative book in collaboration with Moleskine, and opportunities to engage with the director through in-person sessions. This showcase pays tribute to Jia’s significant contribution to China’s “Sixth Generation” filmmaking and highlights HKIFF’s enduring commitment to supporting independent Asian cinema.

Masterclass with Juliette Binoche⁣, Grand Theatre of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, 11 April 2026

French Academy Award-winning actress Juliette Binoche

French actress Juliette Binoche is set to present her two latest films in Hong Kong. One of them is her directorial debut, In-I In Motion, a dance theatre collaboration with choreographer Akram Khan. The other is Queen at Sea, a poignant film that recently won the Berlinale Silver Bear Jury Prize, along with the Silver Bear for Best Supporting Performance awarded to Anna Calder-Marshall and Tom Courtenay. This film delves into the deep emotions linked to her mother’s battle with dementia. Binoche will also participate in masterclasses and public sessions.

Additionally, a retrospective named Juliette Binoche: The Choreographer of Emotion, will showcase three of her most celebrated films: Krzysztof Kieślowski’s Three Colours: Blue, Anthony Minghella’s The English Patient, and Abbas Kiarostami’s Certified Copy. These films earned her prestigious Best Actress awards at the Venice, Berlin, and Cannes Film Festivals respectively.

Must-See Films and Programmes

The HKIFF50 programme is split into the following sections: Gala Presentations, Cinephile Paradise, Masters and Auteurs, Pan-Chinese Cinema, Firebird Awards competitions (Young Cinema and Documentary), World Cinema, Documentaries, Kaleidoscope and Focus.

Screenings will take place in notable venues such as the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Grand Theatre, M+ Cinema, and the Louis Koo Cinema at the Hong Kong Arts Centre, among others.

Sirât (2025) by Oliver Laxe

Key highlights include:

• Silent Friend (dir. Ildikó Enyedi): Marking Tony Leung Chiu-wai’s debut as a leading man in a European film, this meditative drama unfolds around a ginkgo tree during the pandemic.
• Nouvelle Vague (dir. Richard Linklater): A black-and-white homage to the French New Wave, featuring Zoey Deutch.
• Sirât (dir. Óliver Laxe): A thriller set against Morocco’s rave backdrop, following a father and son’s harrowing quest, nominated for an Academy Award.
• Good Boy (dir. Jan Komasa): A darkly comedic British thriller with Anson Boon and Stephen Graham that critiques authoritarianism.
• Restored classics: Sergei Eisenstein’s Battleship Potemkin (with a new Pet Shop Boys score), the cult favourite The Rocky Horror Picture Show (50th anniversary 4K restoration), and early Chinese-language gems like Vive l’Amour (Tsai Ming-liang) and Cageman.

Vive L’Amour (1994) by Tsai Ming-Liang

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Celebrating its golden Jubilee this year, the Hong Kong International Film Festival continues to serve as an essential cultural hub, bringing together filmmakers, cinephiles, and industry professionals from across the globe. Whether you’re a seasoned attendee or joining for the first time, this anniversary will deliver unforgettable screenings and discussions. Don’t miss out, and join through April 12!

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HKIFF50 – 50th Hong Kong International Film Festival
1 April – 12 April
Various locations

For the full schedule, tickets, and programme details, visit the official website: https://www.hkiff.org.hk/