Asian Cinerama
18th Asian Film Awards Selection
Asian Cinerama – 18th Asian Film Awards Selection, in collaboration with Broadway Cinematheque, will bring over 20 acclaimed filmmakers to Hong Kong for exclusive post-screening Q&A sessions. These industry pros will pull back the curtain on filmmaking, diving into everything from directing and screenwriting to cinematography, editing, music composition, production design, and costume design.
Best Director Nominees & Eddie Peng Join Post-Screening Q&A
As part of this year’s special screenings, three highly anticipated films nominated for Best Film and Best Director at the 18th Asian Film Awards will take centre stage: All We Imagine as Light, Black Dog, and Exhuma.
Director Payal KAPADIA of All We Imagine as Light, winner of the Grand Jury Prize at the 77th Cannes Film Festival, will be joined by editor Clément PINTEAUX to discuss the film’s poignant portrayal of modern Indian women’s struggles.
For Black Dog, which won Best Film in Cannes’ Un Certain Regard section, director GUAN Hu, lead actor Eddie PENG, and key members of the production team—including production designers HUO Tingxiao and LI Chang, as well as VFX supervisor Danny YIN—will explore the film’s deeper themes and creative vision.
Meanwhile, Exhuma, one of Korea’s most celebrated films of the year and a major award winner at the Baeksang Arts Awards and Blue Dragon Film Awards, will be presented by director JANG Jae-hyun alongside his production team. They will break down the film’s intricate storytelling, supernatural elements, and its symbolic undertones in a post-screening Q&A.
Screening Schedule:
All We Imagine as Light – March 15, 2025 (Sat) | 12:50 | PREMIERE ELEMENTS
Black Dog – March 15, 2025 (Sat) | 16:00 | PREMIERE ELEMENTS
Exhuma – March 15, 2025 (Sat) | 18:40 | MOViE MOViE Cityplaza
Japanese Stars Set to Meet Fans in Hong Kong
AFA18 Ambassador DEAN Fujioka and Youth Ambassador OKADA Masaki are bringing their latest Japanese box-office hit, Last Mile, to Hong Kong! The story is about a series of package explosions throws Japan into chaos on Black Friday, forcing a logistics team to race against time to contain the crisis. Both of them will attend the post-screening Q&A to share behind-the-scenes stories from the production.
Also, two-time AFA Best Actor winner YAKUSHO Koji returns to Hong Kong for a special screening of Perfect Days! He will join a post-screening Q&A, reflecting on his decades-long career and sharing memorable moments from his journey in film.
Screening Schedule:
Perfect Days – March 15, 2025 (Sat) | 15:40 | MOViE MOViE Cityplaza
Last Mile – March 16, 2025 (Sun) | 11:30 | Premiere Elements
Behind the Lens: Filmmakers Share Their Vision
The Asian Cinerama lineup also features a selection of acclaimed films, including Happyend, Meeting with Pol Pot, All the Long Nights, Shambhala, and Harbin. Filmmakers will take audiences behind the lens in post-screening Q&As, offering insight into the artistry and vision behind their cinematic worlds.
Emerging director SORA Neo is making waves internationally with Happyend, which has been selected for the Venice, Toronto, and New York Film Festivals. He will attend the screening to discuss how the film explores themes of youth and human nature.
Meeting with Pol Pot, a gripping historical drama that reconstructs Cambodia’s Khmer Rouge era, will be explored in a post-screening Q&A with screenwriter Pierre Erwan GUILLAUME and editor Matthieu LACLAU, who will break down the film’s narrative approach.
Japanese director-screenwriter MIYAKE Sho and screenwriter WADA Kiyoto will join audiences for a conversation on All the Long Nights, sharing how they take a gentle approach to telling this heavy story.
Shambhala cinematographer Aziz ZHAMBAKIEV and costume designer Ramlal KHADKA will join director Min Bahadur BHAM for a post-screening discussion, delving into the creative process behind this unique story.
More esteemed filmmakers from across Asia will make special appearances, offering audiences a rare opportunity to gain deeper insight into the creative journeys behind these cinematic works.
Asian Cinerama – 18th Asian Film Awards Selection
Date: March 14 (Fri) – March 16 (Sun)
Venues:
Broadway Cinematheque (Prosperous Garden, 3 Public Square Street, Yau Ma Tei)
MOViE MOViE Cityplaza (5/F Cityplaza, 18 Taikoo Shing Road)
PREMIERE ELEMENTS (2/F, ELEMENTS, 1 Austin Road West)
Ticket Sales Begin: February 28 (Fri) at 3:00 PM
Ticketing Website: https://www.cinema.com.hk/
Asian Cinerama – The 18th Asian Film Awards Selection Screening Schedule:
Happyend
March 14, 2025 (Friday) | 19:10
Location: PREMIERE ELEMENTS
Guest: SORA Neo
Introduction: Director SORA Neo, who grew up between New York and Tokyo, brings a unique cross-cultural perspective to his work. His debut feature Happyend is set in a near-future Tokyo, depicting the struggles of youth under intense societal pressure, as well as their rebellion and self-discovery in an unforgiving world.
All We Imagine as Light
March 15, 2025 (Saturday) | 12:50
Location: PREMIERE ELEMENTS
Guests: Payal KAPADIA, Clément PINTEAUX, Ranabir Das
Introduction: Marking India’s first entry into Cannes’ main competition since 1994, All We Imagine as Light won the Grand Jury Prize. Director Payal KAPADIA, the first Indian female filmmaker to receive this honour, presents a deeply moving exploration of modern Indian women’s struggles. The film has been widely acclaimed, earning spots on numerous “Best Films of 2024” lists worldwide.
Meeting with Pol Pot
March 15, 2025 (Saturday) | 13:15
Location: Broadway Cinematheque
Guests: Matthieu LACLAU, Pierre Erwan GUILLAUME
Introduction: Renowned Cambodian director Rithy PANH continues his commitment to documenting the Khmer Rouge era with Meeting with Pol Pot. Shifting from his previous documentary style, this narrative film reconstructs real events to offer a compelling reflection on Cambodia’s painful history. Premiering at Cannes, the film stands as a solemn tribute to Cambodia’s tragic past, preserving its history through cinema.
Perfect Days
March 15, 2025 (Saturday) | 15:40
Location: MOViE MOViE Cityplaza
Guest: YAKUSHO Koji
Introduction: Director Wim WENDERS brings his signature lyrical style to this film, beautifully complemented by YAKUSHO Koji’s natural performance. Together, they capture the quiet beauty of everyday life. The film was awarded the Prize of the Ecumenical Jury at Cannes, with YAKUSHO winning Best Actor, and it also earned a nomination for Best International Feature at the Academy Awards.
All the Long Nights
March 15, 2025 (Saturday) | 16:00
Location: Broadway Cinematheque
Guests: MIYAKE Sho, WADA Kiyoto, Hi’Spec
Introduction: All the Long Nights follows two individuals who struggle to keep up with the fast-paced city life and cross paths at a small astronomy toy factory on the outskirts. Director MIYAKE Sho delicately crafts a story of human connection, portraying the quiet struggles and understated resilience of everyday life.
Black Dog
Date: March 15, 2025 (Saturday) | Time: 16:00
Venue: PREMIERE ELEMENTS
Guests: GUAN Hu, Eddie PENG, LIANG Jing, HUO Tingxiao, LI Chang, Danny YIN
Introduction: Sixth-generation Chinese director GUAN Hu presents a poignant tale of survival and resilience in turbulent times. The film follows a man and a stray dog, exploring their journey of mutual salvation and renewal. Black Dog won Best Film in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival and was officially selected for the Toronto International Film Festival.
Exhuma
Date: March 15, 2025 (Saturday) | Time: 18:40
Venue: MOViE MOViE Cityplaza
Guests: JANG Jae-hyun, KIM Young-min
Introduction: Starring Korean cinema legend CHOI Min-sik alongside rising stars KIM Go-eun, LEE Do-hyun, and RYU Hae-jin, Exhuma blends mystery, horror, and traditional folklore. The film surpassed 10 million admissions in South Korea and won multiple awards at the Baeksang Arts Awards, including Best Actress, Best New Actor, and Best Director.
Last Mile
Date: March 16, 2025 (Sunday) | Time: 11:30
Venue: PREMIERE ELEMENTS
Guests: Dean FUJIOKA, OKADA Masaki
Introduction: Starring OKADA Masaki and Dean FUJIOKA, Last Mile is set on the eve of Black Friday when a series of warehouse explosions at a major Japanese e-commerce platform throws the nation into chaos. As fear spreads, logistics centre manager and operations lead must race against time to uncover the truth.
Shambhala
Date: March 16, 2025 (Sunday) | Time: 12:00
Venue: Broadway Cinematheque
Guests: Min Bahadur BHAM, Ramlal KHADKA, Aziz ZAUMBAGIEV
Introduction: Nepalese director Min Bahadur BHAM’s second feature explore Nepalese women’s journeys through life’s trials. The film made history as the first Nepalese entry in the Berlinale Competition, vying for the Golden Bear, and was selected as Nepal’s submission for Best International Feature Film at the 97th Academy Awards.
Harbin
Date: March 16, 2025 (Sunday) | Time: 15:15
Venue: Broadway Cinematheque
Guests: /
Introduction: Directed by WOO Min-ho, Harbin is a gripping historical drama set in early 20th-century East Asia, following Korea’s fight for independence. Starring Hyun Bin as the legendary resistance fighter AHN Jung-geun, alongside LEE Dong-wook and PARK Jeong-min, the film delivers intense action, psychological tension, and human drama against the stunning backdrops of vast deserts and frozen lakes. Harbin was also selected for the Toronto International Film Festival.
*Final schedule and guest appearances are subject to change. Please refer to the official website and social media platforms of the Asian Film Awards Academy for the latest updates.