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The ASEAN Film Festival (AFF) officially opened on August 20 at an event attended by government officials, Consuls-General, cultural partners, and filmmakers from across the region. Running until September 27, this year’s festival serves as a vibrant crossroads where stories from Southeast Asia and beyond converge to bridge cultures, spark conversation, and deepen mutual understanding.
With free screenings across Hong Kong, audiences can explore an expanded lineup of more than 30 films that showcase diverse social, cultural, and personal themes through fresh, daring voices. This edition features works from all 11 ASEAN nations – including an entry from ASEAN’s newest member, Timor-Leste. By highlighting music as this year’s core theme, the festival adds a lyrical layer that beautifully threads together innovative storytelling and rich visual experiences.
Strong support from across the region
Since its inaugural edition, AFF has enjoyed strong support from the HKSAR Government and the Consuls-General, along with partners from other countries and regions. The Consuls-General collaborated with the organisers to help select the entries showcased at the festival.
At the opening ceremony, Miss Rosanna Law, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism of the HKSAR, said that the ASEAN Film Festival 2026 is about far more than screening of films, it is fundamentally about connection and collaboration between ASEAN and Hong Kong, which resonates profoundly with Hong Kong’s strategic positioning as the East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange.
Echoing her sentiment, Mr Muzambli Markam, Dean of the ASEAN Consuls-General in Hong Kong and Consul-General of Malaysia in Hong Kong, said the festival highlights the diversity of cultures and creative voices across ASEAN and beyond. This year in particular, with music woven throughout much of the programme, audiences are not only experiencing traditions, stories and aspirations on screen, but also hearing the sounds, voices and music that shape these communities.
Mr Nicholas Ho Lik-chi, Commissioner for Belt and Road of the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau of the HKSAR Government noted that the festival offers Hong Kong audiences an opportunity to discover the creativity and cultural richness of ASEAN and other participating regions. Through cinema, people can gain a deeper understanding of different communities and the stories that connect them.
Mr Daryl Ng, Chairman of the Hong Kong-ASEAN Foundation Limited, which organises AFF, thanked the participating government officials, Consuls-General and partners, filmmakers and creative talents for their support and contribution to the festival. He hoped audiences would enjoy the programme and take the opportunity to discover new stories, gain fresh perspectives and learn more about the rich cultural diversity represented on screen.
AFF bridges cultures, sparks collaboration
To further deepen the cultural exchange, AFF has partnered up with the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA) of the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau to organise a series of sharing and networking sessions that bring filmmakers from Hong Kong and the region together with local audiences. The events have presented lively opportunities to exchange ideas and expertise, and participating filmmakers praise AFF as a dynamic platform for cultural dialogue and a springboard for collaboration. Many note that international festivals like AFF strengthen Hong Kong’s role as a “Super Connector” across ASEAN and beyond, uniting voices, talent, and audiences who might otherwise never meet.
Under the programme “New Frequencies: Short Films of Youth and Whimsy (Southeast Asia)”, three directors – Adnan Al Rajeev (Bangladesh), Ananth Subramaniam (Malaysia), and Whammy Alcazaren (Philippines) – present whimsical narratives threaded with music and distinctive cinematography. Given Hong Kong’s well-established film industry and creative ecosystem, they see the city as an ideal home for AFF and a fertile ground for co-productions and creative exchange.
“As Asians, even when we meet in another country we love hanging out – there’s a real camaraderie that quickly builds into strong friendships,” shares Subramaniam. “That bond makes collaboration natural: when we want to make films, we call on one another’s skills, whether producing, camera work, or postproduction, and there’s always a lively exchange of talent and ideas.”
Al Rajeev describes AFF as a showcase that balances arthouse sensibilities with the region’s warm, human stories. He emphasises how each film carries a national identity through its sound and imagery. “Every film has its own visual language that carries the story, and when that imagery is paired with sound it shapes a film’s identity and conveys the identity of its nation. In my film I set out to create something unmistakably Bangladeshi – a piece that celebrates the country’s beauty.”
The directors also stress AFF’s importance for short-form cinema, since few venues screen these works at home. For filmmakers like Alcazaren, international screenings create momentum and visibility. “Especially for short-form and experimental work, I can’t overstate what it means when a film is screened abroad. When one of our shorts plays at a festival in Hong Kong, it creates excitement back home – people hear that a local film is showing overseas and they want to see it too.”
From Myanmar, Pyae Zaw Phyo was moved by the audience’s warm response to his film I Wanna Be Your Lobster…, which features live-recorded musical performances. He enjoyed the post-screening conversations and the curiosity audiences showed for his culture. “I brought some traditional food and props to the screening. The audiences were really curious,” Pyae recalls. “We chose to present this film because it feels happy and heartwarming with its romance plus music, which is my passion. It’s great that AFF is in Hong Kong because the city’s film industry is a leading inspiration for filmmakers in the ASEAN region. Apart from showcasing the films, if the organisers can host filmmaking workshops, it would be fantastic networking for ASEAN filmmakers.”
Local filmmaker Jill Leung Lai-yin reflects on how seeing films from across the region sharpens appreciation for Hong Kong’s own cinematic voice while revealing shared human emotions. “The more films you watch from other countries, the more you begin to see what’s special about our local Hong Kong films. You see that unique Hong Kong voice, which becomes even more precious. At the same time, we find emotions that resonate everywhere – love, regret, memory. I feel we are all one family.”
Together these voices make a clear case: AFF does more than screen films. It builds friendships, sparks collaborations, and amplifies regional stories and perspectives – turning screenings into the start of lasting creative partnerships.
A beloved cinematic tradition
Supported by governments, businesses, and cultural partners across the region, AFF has become a beloved cross-country tradition for cinema lovers from diverse backgrounds. This carefully curated showcase of cinematic gems is not to be missed.
Disclaimer: Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in these materials/events do not reflect the views of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau or the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency.
