10 must-see movies from Hong Kong Asian Film Festival 2020, from Hand Rolled Cigarette to There Is No Evil
- The festival includes a section dedicated to documentaries from the front lines of the coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan
- There will also be comedies, romances and thrillers among the 50 films from 16 Asian countries
The coronavirus pandemic has battered many industries around the world, and the film industry is no exception. Major studios around the world have withdrawn their big ticket blockbusters from the schedule, exhibitors are on the ropes, and even the festival circuit has been left in tatters.
Cinephiles should be delighted, therefore, that this year’s Hong Kong Asian Film Festival is going ahead as scheduled, kicking off its 17th edition on November 3 with more than 50 new films hailing from 16 different countries around the region.
Unsurprisingly, Covid-19 and its related dramas feature prominently in this year’s selections, not least in the “Tales From the Epicentre” sidebar, a selection of documentaries featuring first-hand accounts of life on the front lines of the emerging outbreak in the mainland city of Wuhan.
More broadly, sections titled “Bruised Youth” and “United, We Stand” feature stories about people recovering from traumatic experiences in various guises, and finding strength in one another during moments of weakness and struggle.
It’s not all doom and gloom, however, as the line-up also includes its fair share of quirky comedies, impassioned romances, and edge-of-your-seat thrillers. New works from established auteurs like Jia Zhangke and Naomi Kawase sit side-by-side with some of Hong Kong’s brightest young talents.
Global travel restrictions mean that many of this year’s filmmakers are unable to attend their screenings, but the organisers promise that a number of virtual post-screening Q&As will be taking place. Here are just 10 highlights (of 11 films, actually) that we are excited about at this year’s event:
