Hong Kong Film Gala Presentation – Jakarta Returns with the Spirit of “Together We Dare to Rock”
AFAA Reunites with Jakarta Film Week — Eight Hong Kong Films, Masterclass, Panel Discussion, and Emerging Talents Gather at Talent Hub
The Hong Kong Film Gala Presentation – Jakarta, presented by the Asian Film Awards Academy (AFAA) and co-organised with Jakarta Film Week, will take place from 23 to 26 October 2025 in Indonesia. The programme is financially supported by the Creative Cultural Industries Development Agency (CCIDAHK) and the Film Development Fund, with the support of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office Jakarta.
Following the enthusiastic response to last year’s Made in Hong Kong section at Jakarta Film Week, the Hong Kong Film Gala Presentation proudly returns to Indonesia this year, bringing a dynamic lineup of Hong Kong films to local audiences. This edition features four feature films and four short films across the genres of action, suspense, family, music, and youth, reflecting the diversity, vitality, and creative depth of Hong Kong cinema.
The feature film selection includes Another World, an original animated film crafted by a Hong Kong studio over seven years, which infuses delicate artistry with a distinctly local cultural perspective; Possession Street, a bold new take on the Hong Kong zombie genre; Band Four, a heartfelt story that connects family and youth through rock music; and Fight for Tomorrow, an action film celebrating the unsung heroes of Hong Kong’s stunt industry. Directors Jack Lai (Possession Street) and Albert Leung (Stuntman) will attend the screenings in person to share behind-the-scenes stories with the audience.
The short film section presents a collection of works that capture the pulse of everyday Hong Kong through a humanistic and emotional lens, including Sweet, Sour and Bitter…, Once upon a time on a Mountain, Bric-a-brac, and Sound of Silence. Among them, Sweet, Sour and Bitter… and Once upon a time on a Mountain were award-winning projects from the International Film Camp 2024 and have been screened at major international festivals such as the Udine Far East Film Festival, the Asian American International Film Festival (AAIFF), and the Drama International Short Film Festival (DISFF) in Greece. Bric-a-brac and Sound of Silence, directed by Yan Yan Mak, have received accolades at the Independent Shorts Awards, highlighting the new generation of Hong Kong filmmakers and their nuanced reflections on humanity, urban life, and memory. Art director Delon Siu from Sweet, Sour and Bitter will also attend a post-screening Q&A session to discuss his creative process with audiences.
Another Hong Kong short film, Anatomy of a Call, has been selected for the “Global Short Competition 2” section. Its Director of Photography, Chan Chi Lip, will join the post-screening Q&A to share insights into the filming and creative experience.
To further introduce outstanding Hong Kong filmmakers to international audiences, AFAA and Jakarta Film Week will co-host a masterclass featuring renowned Hong Kong composer Day Tai, a multiple-time winner of both the Hong Kong Film Awards and Asian Film Awards. The masterclass will take place on Thursday, 23 October, at Institut Kesenian Jakarta, IKJ. Conducted in small-group format, the session will cover topics such as the concept of film scoring, collaboration between composers and directors, and the role of music in shaping emotion and narrative. The class aims to give young Indonesian filmmakers a closer look at Hong Kong’s film music creativity and artistic spirit. Tai will also join the post-screening talk of Band Four to share his musical inspirations and creative philosophy.
Director Jack Lai will take part in the panel discussion The Thrill of Genre Films, joining filmmakers from around the world to explore the appeal and challenges of genre cinema — from action and suspense to thrillers — and to exchange ideas on how genre storytelling evolves across cultural contexts. The discussion will also shed light on Hong Kong cinema’s distinctive influence in the realm of genre storytelling.
AFAA will additionally sponsor two emerging Hong Kong short film creators, Delon Siu and Chan Chi Lip, to participate in the three-day Talent Hub programme at Jakarta Film Week. The initiative includes industry visits and creative exchange sessions that bring together filmmakers from across Asia, encouraging dialogue, collaboration, and cross-regional inspiration among the next generation of creative talents.
Echoing AFAA’s annual theme “Together We Dare,” this year’s Jakarta Edition expands the concept into “Together We Dare to Rock,” symbolising the courage to push creative boundaries and the collaborative energy that drives filmmaking. Music, as the bridge between emotion and storytelling, stands at the heart of this edition’s theme.
The Hong Kong Film Gala Presentation – Jakarta Edition will be held from 23 to 26 October 2025, with tickets available on TIX.ID starting 13 October. Audiences can look forward not only to a selection of Hong Kong’s latest films but also to a range of post-screening talks, panel discussions, and masterclasses that offer a deeper understanding of the creative vision and cultural spirit behind Hong Kong cinema.
Please contact us if any questions,
Email: info@afa-academy.com
Tel: +852 3195 0609
Website: www.afa-academy.com
