Culture and Talent Promotion

Making Waves Programme at Berlin

HKETO Berlin supported the film festival “Making Waves – Navigators of Hong Kong Cinema” in Berlin, Germany from 20 to 22 September, and hosted a reception before the screening of the opening film “Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In”, welcoming some 100 guests. Launched in 2022, the “Making Waves – Navigators of Hong Kong Cinema” programme is funded by the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency of the Hong Kong Government to help Hong Kong films go global. To date, it has showcased the work of many promising Hong Kong filmmakers in over 20 cities.

Hong Kong film talents, including actors Philip Ng (right five), Lo Chun Yip (left four), actress (left five)Angela Yuen, and director Norris Wong (right four) at “Making Waves - Navigators of Hong Kong Cinema” film festival on 20 September 2024 in Berlin.

Zurich Film Festival

HKETO Berlin once again sponsored the 20th Zurich Film Festival (ZFF) from 3 to 13 October. ZFF is the second-largest film festival in the German-speaking world with more than 100 films from around the globe screened. Ms Jenny Szeto, the Director of HKETO Berlin, delivered an opening remarks before the screening of the award-winning movie “All Shall Be Well”, highlighting the importance of fostering cultural exchanges and enhancing the international exposure of quality Hong Kong movies at renowned film festivals. Mr Ray Yeung, the director and screenwriter of “All Shall Be Well”, and Mr Stan Guingon, the executive producer, also joined a sharing session and interacted with the audience after the screening.

Audience at the screening of “All Shall Be Well” at ZFF on 4 October 2024 in Zurich.

Frankfurt Book Fair

HKETO Berlin supported the Hong Kong Pavilion booth at the 76th Frankfurt Book Fair from 16 to 20 October, jointly organised by The Hong Kong Printers Association and Hong Kong Publishing Federation. More than 70 Hong Kong publishers, printers and electronic publishers participated in the book fair, showcasing over 900 print and multimedia publications.

The kick-off ceremony of the Hong Kong Pavilion at the Frankfurt Book Fair.

Promoting Hong Kong as a Centre for Cultural Exchange

HKETO Berlin, together with the Vistula University and the Centre for International Relations in Warsaw, organised a cultural exchange seminar themed “Hong Kong as a Centre for Cultural Exchange between Europe and Asia” on 12 November. Mr Billy Leung, Deputy Director of HKETO Berlin, gave a welcoming speech introducing Hong Kong’s unique role as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange. Speakers at the event included curators of the National Museum in Warsaw and M+ museum in Hong Kong, who shared their respective efforts in encouraging cultural exchanges between Europe and Hong Kong. Arts students and participants from the arts community in Poland also benefited from a lively panel discussion where the speakers shared their views on fostering arts and cultural exchanges.

Cultural exchange seminar held at Vistula University on 12 November 2024 in Warsaw.

Five Flavours Asian Film Festival

HKETO Berlin hosted the screening of opening film and a reception at the 18th Five Flavours Asian Film Festival on 13 November in Warsaw. The festival this year presented a total of ten Hong Kong productions in cinemas and on its online viewing platform, including five film productions directed or produced by the acclaimed director Mr Stanley Kwan under the dedicated section “Portrait: Stanley Kwan”. Ms Sasha Chuk, the director of the film “Fly Me To The Moon”, joined the screening of the movie and a sharing session during the festival as a special guest.

Screening of the opening film “Time Still Turns the Pages” directed by Nick Cheuk, and reception hosted by HKETO Berlin at the Five Flavours Asian Film Festival on 13 November 2024 in Warsaw.

Filmasia Asian Film Festival

HKETO Berlin supported the 20th Filmasia Asian Film Festival which took place from 5 to 10 December, and hosted a reception after the screening of the opening film “Fly Me To The Moon” on 5 December in Prague. The theme of this year’s festival was “Women of Asian Cinema”, and two Hong Kong female directors, namely Sasha Chuk who directed “Fly Me To The Moon” and Heiward Mak who directed “Fagara”, were invited to attend the festival and meet with the audience after the screenings of their respective movies. Two Wong Kar-wai’s classics, “Chungking Express” and “Fallen Angels”, were also presented at the festival.

A total of 4 Hong Kong films were presented at the 20th Filmasia Asian Film Festival in Prague.

Study Fair Einstieg in Munich

Beyond arts and culture, HKETO Berlin has also been active in the promotion of the “Study in Hong Kong” brand to provide students and graduates with insights on the advantages of studying in Hong Kong and further opportunities for staying and working in Hong Kong. HKETO Berlin hosted a booth at the Study Fair Einstieg in Munich from 22 to 23 November 2024 to introduce the unique and valuable learning and living experiences of the city, as well as different scholarship opportunities and talent admission schemes to study or work in our city. The fair was well-attended with more than 6 000 participants.

HKETO Berlin hosted a booth at the Study Fair Einstieg and introduced the study opportunities in Hong Kong.