Culture Promotion

Hong Kong is an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange. One of its most outstanding assets is its filmmaking, with many of our film professionals winning numerous accolades. HKETO Berlin aspires to bring some of the best film highlights, as well as arts performances to the Central and Eastern European audiences.

The Hong Kong film industry received another mark of international recognition in February. Director and screenwriter Ray Yeung’s drama “All Shall Be Well” won the Teddy Award for Best Feature Film at the Berlinale this year. HKETO Berlin joined the Hong Kong Night reception organised by the Hong Kong Film Development Council and CreateHK to celebrate the joy.

“All Shall Be Well” is a compelling family drama telling a deeply moving story of a well-off lesbian couple that had been together for over four decades. After one's unexpected death, the other finds herself at the mercy of her deceased partner's family as she struggles to retain her dignity and the home that the couple shared for over thirty years. Ray Yeung portrays the nuances of social dynamics, matters of wealth and hierarchies in society, as well as taboo topics in families in an outstanding way.

Award-winning Films Shown at Red Lotus Asian Film Festival

Opening screening of the Hong Kong Programme section at the Red Lotus Asian Film Festival in Vienna.

HKETO Berlin supported the screening of two Hong Kong films under the dedicated Hong Kong Programme at the third edition of the Red Lotus Asian Film Festival, held from 25 to 28 April 2024 in Vienna. Two award-winning cinematic masterpieces, “All Shall Be Well” directed by Ray Yeung and “The Goldfinger” directed by Felix Chong, were presented to the Austrian audience.

Ms Jenny Szeto, Director of the HKETO Berlin, highlighted the unique vibrancy of the film industry in Hong Kong and support provided by the Hong Kong Government in fostering global exchanges and enhancing exposures. For example, the Film Development Fund has launched a Hong Kong-Europe-Asian Film Collaboration Funding Scheme to subsidise film projects co-produced by filmmakers from Hong Kong and European / Asian countries.

Art Performance

Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra’s 50^th Anniversary Tour in Switzerland and Germany

The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, recognised as one of Asia’s foremost classical orchestras, is celebrating its 50^th anniversary this year. They were on a European tour led and conducted by its Music Director Jaap van Zweden in February and March this year. HKETO Berlin proudly sponsored and promoted the tour, specifically for the concerts held at Kulturpalast in Dresden, Tonhalle in Zurich and Stadtcasino in Basel, to showcase Hong Kong’s music talents to overseas concertgoers.

“King Lear” in Berlin: Tang Shu-wing Theatre Studio’s Nonverbal Theatre Debut in Europe

HKETO Berlin supported the performance of “King Lear” directed by Tang Shu-wing, three-time Best Director winner at the Hong Kong Drama Awards, at Urania Berlin on 22 May 2024. Featuring an all-female cast from Hong Kong (including renowned Hong Kong actress Cecilia Yip) and the National Theatre Marin Sorescu of Craiova from Romania, Tang Shu-wing Theatre Studio presented a nonverbal theatre with a new interpretation of Shakespeare’s classic. The award-winning performance came to Europe for the first time and was also successfully run in London and Craiova, Romania in May, followed by a rerun at the Hong Kong International Shakespeare Festival in June.

Hong Kong and Hungarian Musicians’ Crossover in Budapest

The Musicus Society was back to Europe again with their concert “Budapest – Hong Kong Express” at the House of Music in Budapest on 1 June 2024. Supported by HKETO Berlin, the concert was joined by internationally renowned cellist Trey Lee, acclaimed guest leader Barnabas Kelemen and violist Katalin Kokas, who together with the music talents from Hong Kong presented a mix of classical and Hungarian folk music. The cross-cultural collaborative performance was a resounding success and well received by the local audiences.

Sports

Celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival on the 25^th Anniversary of Berlin CityCup

HKETO Berlin sponsored the annual Berlin CityCup dragon boat races held on 15 and 16 June 2024 at the Olympic regatta course in Berlin-Grünau. This year also marked the 25th Anniversary of Berlin CityCup. Over 1,000 paddlers from 50 teams from all over Germany competed in the tournament. HKETO Berlin also formed a team “Hong Kong Waverunners” with paddlers from Germany and Hong Kong, and set up a promotional booth at the race venue to celebrate the festival with spectators.

Talent Attraction

BeSt Education Fair in Vienna

Among the 22 degree-awarding higher education institutions in Hong Kong, five are among the world’s top 50 by the Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings 2024 and Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024. The high-quality programmes are taught in English and the universities adopt international standards in curriculum design as well as quality assurance.

As part of its ongoing efforts to attract outstanding students to study in Hong Kong, HKETO Berlin hosted a booth at the Austrian education fair BeSt Vienna from 7 to 10 March, providing useful information on scholarship and study opportunities of Hong Kong. Ms Jenny Szeto, the Director of HKETO Berlin, gave a presentation at the education fair about the advantages and unique experience of studying in Hong Kong, and the diversified talent admission schemes which facilitate young talent to live and work in Hong Kong.