Source: The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
Vietnam joins regional filmmakers at Hong Kong festival promoting ASEAN cultural understanding through cinema
Vietnam was represented at the ASEAN Film Festival (AFF) 2026, which opened in Hong Kong on August 20 and presented free screenings of more than 30 films from the 11 Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) members, Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland and other countries and regions. Organised by the Hong Kong-ASEAN Foundation and co-presented by the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA) under the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, the festival aims to promote understanding and appreciation of regional cultures through film and encourage cultural exchange between Hong Kong and ASEAN.
The opening ceremony was officiated by the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law. With Vietnam among the 11 ASEAN member states represented in the festival programme, AFF 2026 provided a platform for audiences in Hong Kong to engage with cinema and cultural perspectives from Southeast Asia.
Speaking at the ceremony, Miss Law said the AFF 2026 was “about far more than screening of films” and was fundamentally about “connection and collaboration between ASEAN and Hong Kong”. She said the festival’s focus resonated with Hong Kong’s strategic positioning as the East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange.
The festival also features initiatives supporting Hong Kong’s film and creative sectors. CCIDA is sponsoring screenings of two Hong Kong productions funded by the Film Development Fund (FDF), Last Song For You and Band Four, alongside a post-screening sharing session and networking reception. These activities are intended to promote cultural exchanges and collaboration in the film and creative sectors between Hong Kong and ASEAN.
Selected screenings will include post-screening sharing sessions, allowing audiences to interact with participating directors and filmmakers and learn more about the creative processes behind the productions.
The AFF was first launched by the Hong Kong-ASEAN Foundation in 2023 to promote understanding and appreciation of regional cultures through films. The AFF 2026 programme will run until September 27, with free screenings taking place in Hong Kong.
Source: The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
