Captured on Film

Cultural exchange is one of the key blocs under the Belt and Road Initiative. It is in the tradition of HKETO Berlin to partner with renowned film festivals. In 2016, the works of some of the most promising filmmakers from Hong Kong were presented in Switzerland, Austria and Poland alongside other international films.

Zurich Film Festival With 90,500 visitors and 172 productions from 36 countries in 2016, the Zurich Film Festival (ZFF) is the number one platform for film releases in the German speaking market in autumn. ZFF opened up for the 12th time from 22 September to 2 October 2016. HKETO Berlin was again an official partner of the festival by presenting a Hong Kong Window in the ZFF’s Window to the World section. The audience enjoyed screenings such as the much-praised musical comedy-drama film Office by Hong Kong film legend Johnnie To and action crime thriller Trivisa, the directorial debut of the newcomers Vicky Wong, Frank Hui and Jevons Au.

Viennale Another important international film event, Viennale, was also held from 20 October to 2 November 2016. The festival is a fixed date in the annual calendar of cinema enthusiasts as more than 94,000 visitors flock to its screenings annually. A remarkably high percentage of them is made up of young people. HKETO Berlin once again teamed up with Viennale to bring some of the best new Hong Kong films to Vienna.

Five Flavours Film Festival The 10th edition was held from 16 to 23 November 2016 in Warsaw. It is the only annual film festival in Poland to present cinema from East, South-East and South Asia, and has again brought to Poland premiere screenings of the latest and most appealing productions from the Far East as well as classic Asian films and retrospectives of famous filmmakers. About 1,200 Polish filmgoers enjoyed the Hong Kong productions which were sponsored by HKETO Berlin.