The 53rd Hong Kong French Film Festival is set to take place from November 19th to December 10th. This edition of the French Film Festival will showcase nearly 50 films across six theaters, including a selection of classics and new releases, with 110 screenings held at venues such as the Hong Kong City Hall, Hong Kong Film Archive, MOViE MOViE PACIFIC PLACE, PALACE ifc, Broadway Cinematheque, and PREMIERE ELEMENTS.
Since its inception in 1953, the Hong Kong French Cultural Association has been dedicated to promoting French cinema, making it the pioneer and the longest-running film festival in Hong Kong’s history. Over the years, the French Film Festival has introduced over 2000 critically acclaimed French films to Hong Kong audiences, attracting more than 11,000 film enthusiasts. Each year, numerous French actors, directors, writers, and photographers visit Hong Kong to meet fans, participate in Q&A sessions, and engage in festival activities. The festival is supported by various institutions, including the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, the French Consulate General in Hong Kong and Macau, Institut français, local film distributors, sponsors, and several other partners. This year’s festival presents nearly 50 French films, paying tribute to representatives of French cinema while discovering new talents. The selection is divided into three series: Festival Exclusive, showcasing 30 new films released this summer or fall, all of high quality and originality, reflecting the innovative trends in contemporary French cinema; The Retrospective, honoring directors and actors who have had a profound impact on the film industry; and On Design, featuring five films and documentaries about art and design in French fashion, architecture, and visual arts. This year’s festival actively explores themes of fatherhood, women’s liberation, and the indomitable spirit of the times through its selections. The festival delves into father-son relationships and the image of fathers, presenting various father figures, from the attentive to the absent to the suffocating, redefining what it means to be a family. Films such as Jim’s Story directed by Larrieu Brothers, Mikado by Baya Kasmi, A Little Something Extra by Artus, and The Quiet Son by Delphine Coulin and Muriel Coulin blend drama, comedy, and poetry to explore the true meaning of life, portraying the complexity of being human amidst lies, impressions, and reality.This year’s focus on women’s empowerment is reflected in the selection of feature films, dramas, biographies, and documentaries that portray women bravely confronting patriarchy, pursuing freedom, and defying conventional norms. The festival’s selection this year revolves around renowned French female figures, including modern architect Charlotte Perriand and renowned actress Maria Schneider. Directed by Jessica Palud, the biopic ‘Being Maria’ tells the story of young Maria Schneider, played by Anamaria Vartolomei, who suffers trauma after co-starring with Marlon Brando in the film ‘Last Tango in Paris’. Directed by Noémie Merlant, the horror comedy ‘The Balconette’ showcases a post-#MeToo era film that confronts the trivialization of sexual violence. The selection of films from the era includes ‘The Count of Monte Cristo’, directed by Alexandre De La Patellière and Matthieu Delaporte, starring Pierre Niney, Anamaria Vartolomei, and Anaïs Demoustier; ‘The Flood’, directed by Gianluca Jodice, which tells the story of the French Revolution; and ‘The Most Precious of Cargoes’, directed by Michael Hazanavicius. This year’s retrospective series marks the 40th anniversary of the death of François Truffaut, a representative figure of the French New Wave. The festival will screen ten classic Truffaut films, including ‘The 400 Blows’, ‘Jules and Jim’, and ‘Shoot the Piano Player’, as well as two films starring Alain Delon, who also passed away this year. A special screening of ‘Les Bronzes Font Du Ski’ pays tribute to Michel Blanc, who also passed away this year.
The 53rd Hong Kong French Film Festival, a collaboration between the Hong Kong Design Institute and the French Consulate in Hong Kong and Macao, showcases the best of French art and design. The festival features five documentaries and feature-length films as a tribute to French art and design.
Among them is the historical film ‘Eiffel’, directed by Martin Bourboulon and starring Romain Duris and Emma Mackey, known for her roles in ‘Sex Education’ and ‘Barbie’. The documentary ‘Colette Mon Amour’ tells the story of the legendary Parisian concept store Colette, which has now closed. Another documentary, ‘Charlotte Perriand: Pioneer in the Art of Living’, directed by Stéphane Guez, delves into the career of renowned designer Charlotte Perriand and how she lived in the shadow of Le Corbusier. The festival is open from November 19th to December 10th, with performance times and durations subject to change on-site.Related posts:
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