Hong Kong Film Gala Presentation Wraps Up Kuala Lumpur Edition Six Screenings, an Immersive Exhibition and Three Campus Talks Bring Hong Kong Cinema Closer to Malaysian Audiences
(24 August 2026, Hong Kong) - The Hong Kong Film Gala Presentation - Kuala Lumpur has concluded at AURUM Theatre, The Exchange TRX, following a 12-day programme from 21 August to 1 September. Organised by the Asian Film Awards Academy, with support from the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau's Create Hong Kong (CCIDA), the Film Development Fund (FDF) and the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Kuala Lumpur, the programme presented six Hong Kong films alongside post-screening conversations, three university talks and a sensory exhibition.
Six Films, Six Conversations
The line-up brought together Afterpiece, Bird of Paradise, Wakesurf Lovers, Unidentified Murder, Palimpsest: The Story of a Name and Dog Day Evening. Directors Keane WONG and Joey WU, actresses Angela YUEN, Elaine JIN and Renci YEUNG, and actor Kevin CHU joined local audiences after the screenings to talk about the choices behind their films, the work of building a character and memorable moments from production.
Angela YUEN, actress in the opening film, Afterpiece, said: "It was a real honour to come to Kuala Lumpur with the Gala Presentation. Malaysian audiences were so warm, and the care they took in responding to the film gave me a lot of strength. I am also very grateful to the AFA team for looking after us so thoughtfully. I hope Afterpiece can now travel to more places and meet more audiences."
Keane WONG, director of the opening film, Afterpiece, said: "Bringing my first feature to Kuala Lumpur meant a great deal to me. The audience response was far warmer than I had expected, and as a director that was hugely encouraging. I hope Afterpiece can carry that warmth with it as it moves on to other international stages."
Elaine JIN, actress in Bird of Paradise, said: "I was very happy to be in Kuala Lumpur with Joey. During the post-screening talk, you could really feel that the audience connected with the film.
I hope Hong Kong films will continue to be seen and enjoyed by more people around the world."
Joey WU, director of Bird of Paradise, said: "Taking your own film to another country is a very special thing, so I really valued the chance to speak with Malaysian audiences. Hearing that the film had given some viewers a little courage to follow their dreams was especially moving."
Hong Kong Filmmakers Meet Students at TAR UMT
At Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology (TAR UMT), the visiting filmmakers took part in three talks: “Origins of Creation and Director's Vision” with Keane T.K. WONG and Joey WU; “From Sports and Modelling to the Silver Screen” with Angela YUEN, Renci YEUNG and Kevin CHU; and “Elaine JIN: A Cross-Generational Conversation on Cinema” with Elaine JIN and Joey WU. The discussions moved between directing, performance and career choices, while giving students an opportunity to ask candid questions about working in Hong Kong cinema.
Kevin CHU, actor in Wakesurf Lovers, said: "Everyone on this trip came with the same enthusiasm: we wanted to share Hong Kong cinema with Malaysian audiences. I enjoyed the whole journey and hope there will be more chances for us to take our films to different places."
An Exhibition Built Around the Worlds of the Six Films
The limited exhibition “Prisms Pulse: Hong Kong Cinema in Full Colour” gave visitors another way into the six films. Each title was reinterpreted as its own installation, drawing on characters, scenes and visual motifs from the screen. Light, moving images, sound, interactive elements and scent were used across the exhibition, allowing visitors to wander through the films rather than simply view material about them.
The exhibition also took inspiration from Hong Kong itself - its neon glow, crowded rhythms and mix of cultures. By carrying those qualities into the gallery space, it connected the individual films to a broader sense of the city's energy and showed how atmosphere can be part of cinematic storytelling.
Renci YEUNG, actress in Wakesurf Lovers and Unidentified Murder, said: "I was very happy to bring both films to Kuala Lumpur and meet the local audience. The exhibition installations were inventive and put together with a lot of care. I hope they encourage more people overseas to notice and enjoy Hong Kong cinema."
Through the screenings, conversations and exhibition, the Kuala Lumpur edition created several different points of contact between Hong Kong filmmakers and Malaysian audiences. The Asian Film Awards Academy will continue to bring Hong Kong cinema to audiences overseas and open up opportunities for exchange across the region.
About Asian Film Awards Academy (AFAA)
The Asian Film Awards Academy (AFAA) was founded by the Busan, Hong Kong and Tokyo International Film Festivals, it is a non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting Asian cinema and nurturing film talent. In addition to organising the annual Asian Film Awards, AFAA presents year-round screenings, cultural exchange programmes, talent development initiatives and international promotion projects to foster collaboration across the Asian film industry. Through these initiatives, AFAA strengthens connections among film professionals across Asia and promotes Asian cinema to international audiences.
Official Website: www.afa-academy.com
About Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA)
The Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA), established in June 2024 and formerly known as Create Hong Kong, is a dedicated office set up by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government under the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau. It provides one-stop services and support to the cultural and creative industries with a mission to foster a conducive environment in Hong Kong to facilitate the development of arts, culture and creative sectors as industries.
Official Website: https://www.ccidahk.gov.hk
About Film Development Fund (FDF)
The Film Development Fund (FDF) was first set up by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government in 1999 to support projects conducive to the long-term development of the local film industry. Since 2005, the HKSAR Government has injected around $ 2.9 billion in total into FDF to support Hong Kong’s film industry along four strategic directions, namely nurturing talent, enhancing local production, expanding markets and building audience. In the past, FDF has supported a number of film productions and other film-related projects through various film production funding schemes and other film-related project schemes.
Official Website: https://www.fdc.gov.hk
About Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Kuala Lumpur
The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) in Kuala Lumpur is the official representative of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) dedicated to fostering robust bilateral relations with and elevating HKSAR's global standing in Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, Laos and Pakistan across economic, trade, and cultural spheres.
Commenced operation on 10 December 2025, this office marks a significant milestone as the HKSAR's 15th overseas ETO and the fourth within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region.
Operating in synergy with the HKETOs in Singapore, Jakarta, and Bangkok, the four ASEAN-based HKETOs are committed to intensifying trade and investment promotion across their respective purviews. Through this expanded network, the offices dynamically enhance economic integration with ASEAN and neighbouring partners, reinforcing Hong Kong's position as a premier international trade hub.
Official Website: https://www.hketokl.gov.hk/about/hketo/
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