HKETO, Brussels supports Hong Kong films at Asian Film Festival Barcelona

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels (HKETO, Brussels), Create Hong Kong and the Film Development Fund are supporting the screening of six Hong Kong films at the 11th Asian Film Festival Barcelona being held in Barcelona, Spain, from 25 October to 5 November 2023.

• In Broad Daylight - by Lawrence Kwan Chun-kan
• Lonely Eighteen - by Tracy Choi Ian-sin
• Once in a Blue Moon - by Andy Lo
• The Sunny Side of the Street - by Lau Kok-rui
• Vital Sign - by Cheuk Wan-chi
• Stand Up Story by Au Cheuk Man

Speaking before the screening of "In Broad Daylight" on 2 November, a representative of HKETO, Brussels highlighted that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has been promoting creative industries and grooming talent in the film sector, strengthening Hong Kong's role as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange. The representative added that recently in 'The Chief Executive's 2023 Policy Address';, new initiatives were announced to further develop the film market, including the Hong Kong-Europe-Asian Film Collaboration Funding Scheme to sponsor film projects co-produced by Hong Kong filmmakers and their Asian and European counterparts.

The Asian Film Festival Barcelona specialises in Asian cinema, with a programme of more than 100 films from around 25 countries and cities in Asia and the Asia-Pacific region.

The event presents a programme that includes more than 100 auteur films from around 25 countries and regions in Asia and the Asia-Pacific region

In Lawrence Kwan's drama In Broad Daylight, Kay is a tenacious investigative reporter who goes undercover at a home for the disabled after hearing the rumour that staff are abusing the residents. Kay goes on a stubborn crusade for justice.

In Tracy Choi's drama Lonely Eighteen, Elaine, who grew up in poverty in the 1980s, enters the Hong Kong entertainment industry with her best friend Yingin in the golden era of Hong Kong cinema. Part of the Festival's Official Selection.

In one of his finest performances yet, Louis Koo plays a veteran ambulanceman who simply wants to do his job without any interference from his boss. Cheuk Wan-chi's film Vital Sign has been described as a love letter to Hong Kong and its people.

In Lau Kok-rui's drama The Sunny Side of the Street, Hassan's father died in a car accident that involved Yat. When Hassan gets in trouble with the police, Yat decides to help him escape, but Hassan discovers the truth about his father's death.

Andy Lo's film Once in a Blue Moon is a delicate portrait of a family threatened by the well-intentioned lies its members tell each other. Between compassionate and hilarious, this tragicomedy transmits a comforting message about how to learn to live.

Au Cheuk Man's film Stand Up Story, about the relationship of a young man with his intellectually disabled father shows how humour can be the solution to even the hardest problems.

Festival Website