The Hong Kong International Film Festival announces today that it will return to its regular spring slot in 2023 as its 46th edition concludes successfully with the gala of Tori and Lokita, the Dardenne Brothers' recent winner of the Cannes Special 75th Anniversary Award.

HKIFF46's closing night was especially memorable for a packed audience at PREMIERE ELEMENTS, with the celebrated Belgian auteurs joining them in a live online masterclass after the screening.

Earlier, Hong Kong International Film Festival Society Executive Director Albert Lee confirms that the 47th edition of the long-running festival will return to its traditional slot and take place from 30 March to 10 April 2023 for 12 days. 

The hybrid HKIFF46 was postponed to August when the rampant Covid-19 pandemic forced all cinemas and performing venues in Hong Kong to close at the beginning of the year.  It showcased over 200 films from 67 countries and regions, including 32 Asian and four world premieres, over 17 days of in-theatre and online screenings. 

"It was very challenging to stage a film festival during the pandemic, and I am happy and relieved that the mission was accomplished without any mishaps to the best of our knowledge," Mr Lee said. 

This year's highlights were the gala presentation of several new Hong Kong productions, including Philip Yung's long-awaited Where the Wind Blows and the mega-budget sci-fi blockbuster Warriors of Future, the focus series on Sandra Ng, the touring Making Waves - Navigators of Hong Kong Cinema film programme, photo exhibitions, and a record number of online events connecting overseas filmmakers with the local audiences.

"The audience engagement events are integral to our festival and, hopefully, we will be able to welcome many of these incredible filmmakers to Hong Kong personally next year," Mr Lee said.  "Please mark your calendar with the dates of HKIFF47."

Article reproduced from:  hkiff.org.hk