45th Hong Kong Int'l Film Festival to go hybrid


(China org) The 45th Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF45) will go hybrid with both in-theater and online screenings as well as audience-engagement events, the organizers announced on Wednesday.

Hong Kong International Film Festival Society executive director Albert Lee said that a hybrid HKIFF45 will allow audiences to connect through an online platform without sacrificing the irreplaceable big-screen cinematic experience. 

"The COVID-19 pandemic severely disrupted the international film festival circuit last year. Many festivals, including our very own HKIFF44, were either canceled or forced to move online," Lee said. "With the pandemic showing few signs of abating, we recognize the proactive need to confront ongoing challenges by adding an online component to our festival for the first time."

Besides screenings, the festival will offer online streaming of some of the seminars, post-screening talks, and other events, giving the audiences greater flexibility in choosing how they wish to participate. Lee added that the society would announce details of the hybrid HKIFF45, including its programs and ticketing arrangements, at a later date.

"The society will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation closely and comply with every health measure mandated by the government," he said. "Public safety remains our paramount concern."

As one of the longest-running film festivals in Asia, HKIFF has grown to become a huge cultural event in Hong Kong and one of Asia's most reputable platforms for filmmakers, film professionals, and moviegoers from around the world to launch new work and watch outstanding films. The annual HKIFF built its global reputation on pioneering attempts to program an all-Asian roster of film and retrospectives when neither Asian nor Hong Kong cinema was well known to the international community.

Source: china.org by Zhang Rui | January 14, 2021 

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