Founded in 1976, the Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF, Chinese: 香港國際電影節) is Asia’s oldest international film festival and a pioneer in introducing Hong Kong, Chinese language and Asian cinema and filmmakers to the world.
Screening over 250 titles from more than 55 countries in over 11 major cultural venues across the territory every year, HKIFF is one of the largest cultural events in Hong Kong. For the past seven years, HKIFF also produced and premiered anthologies of short films by well-known award winning filmmakers from Asia such as Ann HUI, KUROSAWA Kiyoshi, JIA Zhangke, Brillante MENDOZA, NAKATA Hideo, TSAI Ming-liang, Apichatpong WEERASETHAKUL and among others. From 2017, HKIFF will collaborate with Heyi Pictures to produce two feature films a year by young Chinese filmmakers that will hold their world premieres at HKIFF.
The 40th Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF40) was held from 21 March to 4 April 2016. Out of 3,183 film submissions that the festival received, 248 films from 66 countries/regions were picked and showcased in 11 major cultural venues in Hong Kong. 63 of the films were world, international or Asian premieres.
The 41st Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF41) will be held from 11 to 25 April 2017.
Previously operated by Urban Council and Leisure and Cultural Services Department, from 1977 to 2001, and Hong Kong Arts Development Council, from 2002 to 2004, HKIFF was officially incorporated as an independent, charitable organisation – Hong Kong International Film Festival Society Limited - after completing its 28th edition. The Hong Kong SAR Government has continued to subsidise the festival through venue provision and funding of up to HK$7 million.
The Hong Kong International Film Festival Society (HKIFFS) is a charitable, non-profit and non-governmental organisation.
Festival Grand Cinema
Hong Kong Cultural Centre
Hong Kong City Hall
Hong Kong Science Museum
Hong Kong Film Archive
Hong Kong Arts Centre
UA Cine MOKO
UA iSquare
UA Cityplaza
The Grand Cinema
The Metroplex
Sha Tin Town Hall
Hong Kong Space Museum
Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre
New films are featured as gala premieres, with the directors and cast presenting on the red carpet and meet-and-greet sessions in theaters. HKIFF draws over 300 international press every year. Festival-goers can attend screenings, panel discussions, forums, seminars, exhibitions, live music performances, and parties celebrating the festival.
There are three categories of awards, decided by juries consisting of film industry professionals such as film critics, directors and film festival delegates:
- Young Cinema Competition
- Documentary Competition
- Short Film Competition
HKIFF01: 37 features, 7 shorts, 46 screenings, 16515 total attendance.
Opening film - Italy: Year One (Roberto Rossellini).
HKIFF02: 74 features, 7 shorts, 113 screenings, 55489 total attendance.
Opening films: Raise Ravens (Cría Cuervos) by Carlos Saura and The Seagull (Il Gabbiano) by Marco Bellocchio.
HKIFF03: 79 features, 3 shorts, 128 screenings, 80755 total attendance.
Opening film: Raining in the Mountain by King Hu.
HKIFF04: 97 features, 17 shorts, 166 screenings, 89745 total attendance.
Opening film: American Gigolo by Paul Schrader.
HKIFF05: 137 features, 52 shorts, 213 screenings, 95688 total attendance.
Opening films: Child of the Sun (Taiyo no ko teda no fua) by Kiriro Urayama and The Uprising (Der Aufstand / La insurrección) by Peter Lilienthal
HKIFF06: 128 features, 46 shorts, 216 screenings, 109028 total attendance.
Opening films: Circle of Deceit (Die Fälschung) by Volkor Schlondorff, Street Music by Jenny Bowen and Muddy River (Doro no kawa) by Kohei Oguri
HKIFF07: 137 features, 48 shorts, 220 screenings, 109170 total attendance.
Opening films: Passion by Jean LucGodard, Moonlighting by Jerzy Skolimowski and Son of the North East by (Luk e-san) by Vichit Kounavudhi.
HKIFF08: 140 features, 14 shorts, 279 screenings, 125373 total attendance.
Opening films: The King of Comedy by Martin Scorsese, Carmen by Carlos Saura and Merry Christmas Mr.Lawrence by Nagisa Oshima
HKIFF09: 133 features, 18 shorts, 270 screenings, 121384 screenings.
Opening films: Full Moon in Paris (Les nuits de la pleine lune) by Eric Rohmer, Paris Texas by Wim Wenders and Mac Arthurs Children (Setouchi shonen yakyu dan) by Masahiro Shinoda
HKIFF10: 139 features, 9 shorts, 284 screenings, 119236 total attendance.
Opening films: PingPong by Leong Po-chih, Ran by Akira Kurosawa and Insignificance by Nicolas Roeg
HKIFF11: 136 features, 21 shorts, 320 screenings, 120897 total attendance.
Opening films: The Green Ray (Le rayon vert) by Eric Rohmer, To Sleep So As To Dream (Yumemiru yoni nemuritai) by Kaizo Hayashi and The Sacrifice (Offret) by Andrei Tarkovsky
HKIFF12: 134 features, 20 shorts, 329 screenings, 113364 total attendance.
Closing films: Wings of Desire by Wim Wenders and Red Sorghum (Hong Gao liang) by Zhang Yimou
HKIFF13: 123 features, 37 shorts, 318 screenings, 95422 total attendance.
Opening films: Ashik Kerib by Dodo Abashidze and Sergei Parajanov, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (Mujeres al borde de un ataque de nervios) by Pedro Almodovar and Pellethe Conqueror (Pelle Erobreren/Pelle erövraren) by Bille August
HKIFF14: 147 features, 21 shorts, 329 screenings, 106674 total attendance.
Closing film: Song of the Exile by Ann Hui
HKIFF15: 173 features, 28 shorts, 330 screenings, 115884 total attendance.
Opening film: Li Lianying: The Imperial Eunuch by Tian Zhuangzhuang
Closing film: My American Grandson by Ann Hui
HKIFF16: 146 features, 33 shorts, 272 screenings, 109032 total attendance.
Opening films: Ripples Across Stagnant Water by Ling Zifeng and High Heels (Tacones lejanos) by Pedro Almodovar
HKIFF17: 150 features, 35 shorts, 270 screenings, 111556 total attendance.
Opening films: For Fun by Ning Ying and Opening Night by John Cassavetes
Closing film: The Wedding Banquet by Ang Lee
HKIFF18: 159 features, 38 shorts, 262 screenings, 100100 total attendance.
Opening films: Three Colours: Blue (Trois Couleur: Bleu)
HKIFF19: 146 features, 55 shorts, 286 screenings, 172800 total attendance.
Opening films: In the Heat of the Sun by Jiang Wen
HKIFF20: 150 features, 35 shorts, 292 screenings.
Opening films: Hu Du Men by Shu Kei and From Dusk Till Dawn by Robert Rodriguez
Closing films: Mahjong by Edward Yang and The King of Masks by Wu Tianming
HKIFF21: 187 films
Opening films: Kitchen (Wo Ai Chufang) and The River (Heliu)
HKIFF22: 187 films
Opening films: Beast Cop and Dragon Inn
HKIFF23: 200 films
Opening films: Ordinary Heroes and Where a Good Man Goes
HKIFF24: 190 films
Opening films: Spacked Out and The Million Dollar Hotel
HKIFF25: 161 films
Opening films: Penoy Pavilion and Mortal Transfer
HKIFF26: 176 films
Opening films: Hollywood Hong Kong and Heaven
HKIFF27: 229 films
Opening films: The Twilight Samurai and PTU
HKIFF28: 213 films
Opening films: Baober in love and Jade Goddess of Mercy
HKIFF29: 175 films
Opening films: Peacock and The Hidden Blade
HKIFF30: 206 films
Opening films: Election 2 and Isabella
HKIFF31: 248 films
Opening films: I am a Cyborg, but that's OK and Eye in the Sky
HKIFF32: 242 films
Opening films: Soul of a Demon and Kabei - Our Mother
HKIFF33: 224 films
Opening films: Night and Fog and Shinjuku Incident
HKIFF34: 201 films
Opening films: Like a Dream and Crossing Hennessy
HKIFF35: 225 films
Opening films: Quattro Hong Kong 2 and Don't Go Breaking My Heart
HKIFF36: 209 films
Opening films: Love in the Buff
HKIFF37: 306 films
Opening films: Ip Man - The Final Fight
HKIFF38: 300 films
Opening films: Aberdeen and The Midnight After
HKIFF39: 264 films
Opening films: Murmur of the Hearts
HKIFF40: 248 films
Opening films: Chongqing Hot Pot and Trivisa
