Colours in the Dark: The Hong Kong International Film Festival 2019

Description

The Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF) is the Asian region’s oldest and largest film festival of its kind. Now in its 43rd year, the pioneering film festival is back with an extensive programme peppered with movies across genres, countries and decades, including 64 films that see their world, international and Asian premieres. 

HKIFF43 opens with the world premiere Chinese-language crime thriller Bodies at Rest by Finnish film director Renny Harlin. Closing the festival is the Asian premiere of the Berlinale Grand Jury Prize winner, By the Grace of God, a quietly devastating real-life inspired drama from acclaimed French filmmaker François Ozon.

HKIFF43 also presents the gala premiere of a number of new, globally acclaimed films, including First Night Nerves by Hong Kong new wave icon Stanley Kwan; and Berlinale’s Golden Bear Winner for Best Film Synonyms by Israeli director Nadav LAPID. They Shall Not Grow Old, in which Peter Jackson revives the war history with his 3D digital wizardry, will also be screened as a special presentation.   

Other highlights include the “Centenary of Korean Cinema,” a showcase of classics as well as distinguished new films from South Korea, “Reality Bites”, a programme of thought-provoking documentaries, “Filmmakers and Filmmaking”, which screens documentaries on legendary directors and their films, and “Animation Unlimited”, a showcase of animated films for adults. 

This year’s HKIFF pays tribute to legendary action master Sammo Hung by screening ten of his seminal works and launching a commemorative retrospective book. Hung will also attend a ‘Face to Face’ seminar to share his experiences in the film industry with the audience.

The festival will also play host to three masterclasses in which two-time Oscar-winning director Asghar Farhadi, Korean master Lee Chang-dong and revered actor-director Jiang Wen will meet HKIFF audiences to discuss their films. Other filmmakers in attendance include Berlinale Best Director winner Angela Schanelec, documentarian Vitaly Mansky, and Taiwanese master Tsai Ming-liang.

Zolima CityMag is a proud media partner to the event. 

Click HERE to participate in our contest for a chance to win tickets to HKIFF43.