Hong Kong Film Festival 2024

The Hong Kong Film Festival returns for its third edition, as the Hong Kong Film Gala Presentation, celebrating the latest releases and timeless classics from Hong Kong. Join us for the Hong Kong Film Gala Presentation, running from the 2nd to the 8th of November, 2024, at Cinema Akil in Alserkal Avenue. Featuring eight films across genres ranging from action and thrillers to romance and drama, this cinematic journey explores the past, present, and future of Hong Kong cinema. A panel discussion will also be held, delving into the rich legacy of Hong Kong filmmaking.

 This year’s program offers a diverse cinematic lineup, including True Love, for Once in My Life (2024), where childhood sweethearts reunite only to endure separation, illness, and hardship, discovering that love is their greatest strength. In Once in a Blue Moon (2023), a family burdened by secrets attempts to heal their wounds as the Mid-Autumn Festival approaches. Time Still Turns the Pages (2023) follows a high school teacher haunted by childhood trauma who races to prevent tragedy after finding a student’s suicide note. Love Lies (2024) tells the bittersweet story of a widowed gynecologist caught in an online romance scam that unexpectedly transforms both participants. Dust to Dust (2023) centers on a retired officer’s pursuit of justice 21 years after a notorious heist in Guangdong. Stuntman (2024) explores the journey of a former stunt choreographer confronting his past and rebuilding relationships to deliver one final masterpiece.

The presentation also features two popular classics: A Better Tomorrow (1986), directed by John Woo, a seminal Hong Kong action-drama that follows Mark and Ho, two ex-gangsters grappling with their fall from power as they struggle to survive on the fringes of society; and In the Mood for Love (2000), directed by Wong Kar Wai, portraying two neighbors drawn together by their spouses’ infidelity, slowly developing a bond that blurs the line between companionship and romantic longing.

We have special guests flying in from Hong Kong to present their films. Delon Siu, director of True Love, for Once in My Life; Gladys Li, star of Once in a Blue Moon; Jonathan Li, director of Dust to Dust; and Kevin Ma, Hong Kong film expert, will participate in Q&A sessions after their screenings and join the panel discussion, “Legacy in Frames: The Evolution of Hong Kong Cinema,” exploring the rich tapestry of Hong Kong’s film history.

Hong Kong Film Gala Presentation is presented by the Asian Film Awards Academy (AFAA), in collaboration with Cinema Akil, financially supported by the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDAHK), the Film Development Fund (FDF) and the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Dubai.

Tickets are now live! 

Book your tickets today!

*Season Pass is available HERE