[2026.04.02] THE 50TH HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL OPENS

Rachel Leung and Renci Yeung are in the same movie but never appear in the same shot together

Despite his great liberation in the film, ANSONBEAN still brings his entire family to support it
courtesy of on.cc

Natalie Hsu hopes to offer her services to different directors during the film festival

ANSONBEAN invites his entire family to watch his category III film

Rachel Leung and Renci Yeung have no scene together in their new film
courtesy of mingpao.com

The opening ceremony of the 50th Hong Kong International Film Festival was held at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre last night, kicking off the 12-day film festival. The opening film was the Asian premiere of Singaporean director Anthony Chen's WE ARE ALL STRANGERS. This year's featured filmmaker and famous Mainland director Jia Zhangke also attended in person to share his deep relationship with the Hong Kong International Film Festival over the years, and to send a message to the new generation of audiences to understand film creation with an open attitude.

Hong Kong International Film Festival Association Chairman Wilfred Wong Ying Wai, Permanent Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Vivian Sum Fong-Kwang, together with Festival Ambassadors Angela Yuen Lai Lam and Tony Wu Tsz Tung, "Asian Visionary Ambassadors" Gingle Wang Jing and Metawin Opas-iamkajorn as well as various guests wished the festival a smooth run.

This year's festival will feature more than 215 films from 71 countries and regions. In more than 320 screenings, audiences can interact with a number of internationally renowned filmmakers, including Jia Zhangke, Juliette Binoche, Chen Kaige, Tian Zhuangzhuang, Huang Jianxin, Ann Hui On Wah, Ildiko Enyedi, Anthony Chen, Pen-Ek Ratanaruang, etc.

Focus filmmaker Jia Zhangke said on stage that he was very happy that the film festival has always supported him, and he was honored that his XIAO SHAN GOING HOME has become the focus film of the film festival. This time, taking advantage of the 50th anniversary of the film festival, he came to Hong Kong to participate again, which felt very meaningful.

The famous mainland director Huang Jianxin also attended the opening ceremony yesterday, saying that he has come to Hong Kong 40 years ago and said that he had always paid attention to Hong Kong films.

Natalie Hsu (Hui Yan Yi) said that she was very happy to see filmmakers from all over the world. When she entered the venue, she saw Singaporean director Anthony Chen. She has always paid attention to his films. The reporter asked her if she would take the opportunity to recommend herself to other directors? She said: "In the past, definitely not; but now I feel that the culture has changed, as an actor you should take the initiative; not necessarily passively or wait for the director to decide who will perform, but it all depends on the situation." She said that if she had the opportunity to recommend herself, she would definitely pay attention to their films first, and then have in-depth exchanges so that they could see her sincerity, and bring her performance clips with her to show them.

Rachel Leung Yung Ting and Renci Yeung Sze Wing appeared at the opening ceremony of the Hong Kong International Film Festival last night, promoting their movie THE DATING MENU (CHU SI FAT BAN). When asked why the lead actor Lo Chun Yip (Siuyea) did not appear, they joked that the male lead was very important so he would appear later. Although Leung Yung Ting and Yeung Sze Wing made the same movie, it turned out that yesterday was the first time they met. Because they met Siuyea separately in the film, they were not in the same scene. They joked that they were considered romantic rivals across time and space, and that Siuyea was seeing many women. When asked if the two have ever met a bad man in reality, they jokingly said not to bring up the heartbreaks again, otherwise they would be sad and cry backstage later. Yeung Sze Wing revealed that in the film Lo Chun Yip's home cooking moved her, and in real life she also loved her parent's home cooking. Has she inherited her parents' culinary skills? She said, "To each its own. Earlier when camping, my friends rather enjoyed the food I cooked."

WE'RE NOTHING AT ALL (NGOR MOON BUT SI SUP MOR) actor ANSONBEAN (Chan Ngai Sun) was present, and said that the film's other actor, Anson Kong Yip Sun (AK), was unable to attend due to work. ANSONBEAN will bring his parents, younger brother and nearly 70-year-old grandmother to watch the new film, and said that he would have a great liberation in it this time. He had no baggage at all, and his first same sex kiss was a big challenge. In addition, speaking of people questioning the qualification of MIDLIFE SING AND SHINE 4 coach Calvin Cheung Ka Ming online, ANSONBEAN said that he has learned to sing from him when he participated in "KING MAKER III". So he did not dare to comment on his qualifications. Speaking of Cheung Ka Ming being expensive, ANSONBEAN agreed. "He's expensive! So at the time I just took down notes and didn't go to any more classes. My budget was limited."