Film fans in Hong Kong will be treated to a two-week movie extravaganza this August. The 2024 Cine Fan Summer International Film Festival (Summer IFF) will kick off on 14 August with two recent award-winners from the Cannes Film Festival.

Award-Winning Films

Guan Hu’s Black Dog, a darkly comedic thriller exploring an unlikely friendship between a loner and a canine, starring Eddie Peng will open the festival. There is also Coralie Fargeat’s The Substance, an uncompromising feminist body-horror satire, showcasing a fearless performance from Demi Moore.

The 13-day film fest will conclude with the omnibus Tales of Taipei, a diverse romantic comedy directed by nine up-and-coming filmmakers from Taiwan, Hong Kong and beyond.  The ten collective narratives illuminate the city’s vibrancy with dazzling performances from a star-studded cast featuring Karena Lam, Sinje Lee, Sammi Cheng, Stephy Tang, Chang Chen, Ethan Yuan, Ronald Cheng, and Liu Kuan-Ting.

Exciting Line-Up

Fresh from the international festival circuit, Summer IFF’s exciting line-up includes Quentin Dupieux’s Cannes opening film The Second Act, Piero Messina’s sci-fi romance Another End, and the award-winning Desert of Namibia, whose young director Yamanaka Yoko will meet the Hong Kong audience after the screening.

The list of documentaries is equally appealing, featuring the Berlinale Documentary Award winner No Other Land and intriguing biographical films, such as Hayao Miyazaki and the Heron and Made in England: The Films of Powell and Pressburger.

Additionally, timeless classics never lose their relevance.  King Kong and Godzilla, the two pioneering giant monsters in the history of cinema, are brought back to life in newly restored versions.  These two seminal films showcase innovative visual techniques and have profoundly influenced the genre’s development.  A complete list of films and programme can be found on the official website.

For Fans Of Film

In addition to screenings, CineClub offers its subscribers two exclusive Summer Workshops, in which two renowned unit photographers, Jupiter Wong and Quist Tsang, and two key art designers, Frank Chan and Jackey Cheung, will share their expertise and experiences, respectively.

Tickets for the 2024 Cine Fan Summer International Film Festival are available at URBTIX outlets.  Full-time Hong Kong students, senior citizens above 60, people with disabilities and one minder, and CSSA recipients can enjoy discounted tickets at HK$28 (RM16) each.

(Images: 2024 Cine Fan)