Europe’s leading film festivals showcasing Hong Kong’s finest films

Hong Kong has always been proud of its film industry, and the Hong Kong Government is strongly determined to further nurture the city’s arts and culture sector, including the film industry. In this connection, HKETO Berlin sponsored a series of top-notch film festivals in different European cities, including Zurich, Warsaw, Bratislava and Prague, in the second half of 2023 to bring some of the best Hong Kong productions to the European audience.

Ms Jenny Szeto, Director of HKETO Berlin, at the Zurich Film Festival in Switzerland on 29 September 2023

The 19^th Zurich Film Festival, which was held from 28 September to 8 October 2023, featured 150 films from around the world. The opening film shown under the dedicated “Hong Kong Window” section on 29 September 2023 was “A Guilty Conscience”, a genre mix of thriller and comedy that comes in the guise of a classic courtroom drama. Officiating at the opening screening of the Hong Kong Window, Ms Jenny Szeto, Director of HKETO Berlin, highlighted that Hong Kong was actively positioning itself as an East‑meets‑West centre for international cultural exchange and enhancing its ecosystem. She took the opportunity to invite creative professionals and talents in Europe to explore the relevant opportunities in Hong Kong.

HKETO Berlin presented six Hong Kong productions in a dedicated “Hong Kong Heroines” section at the 17^th Five Flavours Asian Film Festival, which took place from 15 November to 3 December 2023 with both in-cinema and online viewings. The “Hong Kong Heroines” section presented Hong Kong movies from the 1960s to the present times from a women’s perspective – our female protagonists were given the stage to depict their views, their struggles and their power in various ways. The festival was opened with the film “An Autumns Tale”, an award-wining classic of the Hong Kong cinema directed by Mabel Cheung. Looking back on a decade-long partnership with the festival, Ms Bonnie Ka, Acting Director of HKETO Berlin, appreciated the great collaboration of the film festival during her speech at the official opening ceremony.

Audience at the opening film of the Hong Kong section at the Slovak Queer Film Festival on 23 November 2023

HKETO Berlin supported the Slovak Queer Film Festival for the first time and presented five Hong Kong productions in the dedicated Hong Kong section at its 17th edition this year from 22 to 28 November 2023 in Bratislava. At the opening night on 23 November, one of the most moving love stories in the Hong Kong cinematic history was presented, namely “Happy Together” by the legendary Wong Kar-wai. Ms Bonnie Ka, Acting Director of HKETO Berlin, delivered welcome remarks and officiated at the opening screening of the dedicated Hong Kong section.

HKETO Berlin presented film productions by Ann Hui, one of the most acclaimed filmmakers from Hong Kong, under the “Ann Hui Tribute” section at the 19th Filmasia Asian Film Festival.

HKETO Berlin hosted the opening of the 19th Filmasia Asian Film Festival on 7 December 2023 in Prague, with a total of four films presented under the “Ann Hui Tribute” section. The festival, which took place from 7 to 11 December 2023, welcomed the Hong Kong director Ann Hui as a special guest in Prague. Several of her classics were presented this year at the festival, including Boat People and A Simple Life, which tackle contemporary social issues in an acute manner. At the opening Ms Jenny Szeto, Director of HKETO Berlin delivered welcoming remarks, expressing her gratitude for having worked with the Filmasia team for over a decade.