Lam Ka-tung and Mirror’s Lokman Yeung try to exert their free will and change their destiny in director Soi Cheang’s Hong Kong-set genre thrill ride with a dash of fantasy thrown in.

The 47th Hong Kong International Film Festival makes a full return after three years of Covid-19 pandemic disruptions. From Mad Fate and Vital Sign to Aftersun, we pick 10 highlights not to be missed.

From a Coco Chanel-inspired ballet to HKIFF’s Godard retrospective and a Leslie Cheung tribute at the brand new HKT x WestK Popfest music festival

The Hong Kong International Film Festival 2022 runs from August 15-31 and includes four world premieres and 32 Asian premieres. Here are 10 highlights from the event that you shouldn’t miss.

Two hits from last month’s Cannes Film Festival, Annette and Benedetta, are among the highlights of this year’s Hong Kong Summer International Film Festival.

This year’s festival includes a Tony Leung and Aaron Kwok crime epic, four Wong Kar-wai classics and seven from Stanley Kwan, as well as Korean, Danish and Kazakh films and a number of restored classics.

A Woody Allen romcom, an Almodovar retrospective, a Maradona documentary and Jim Jarmusch’s take on the zombie genre are among a slew of new releases and restored classics. Don’t miss Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing.

Everybody Knows director Asghar Farhadi says that while shooting the film in Spain meant he was ‘free to put into practice whatever you think of’, his instinct is still to touch on topics similar to those in Iranian culture.

The Sisters Brothers director Jacques Audiard talks about his nickname, the challenge of shooting in English, women’s representation at film festivals and why he doesn’t want his films entered in competition any more.

New ways of storytelling and rich political allegories were the innovations that this new breed of maverick directors introduced. Bold in abstraction and symbolism, their films relied on images rather than dialogue for expression.

Subjects include drugs in Colombia to free climbing in Yosemite, first world war footage in colour to a documentary about Alien. Other films are about a footballer who loses his skill and a documentary about Alexander McQueen.

Cine Fan’s Summer International Film Festival runs from August 18 to 28 and will showcase a number of new and old cinematic treats from around the world. Here are our picks of what shouldn’t be missed.

A new programme from UA Cinemas allows the trained companions to accompany owners to see films, while a machine gives the blind and partially blind a description of what’s happening on screen.

He may be 60, but Tsai has branched out into the world of virtual reality, embracing 360-degree cinema in his latest film The Deserted. The immersive story wowed crowds at the recent Hong Kong International Film Festival

Dragonfly Eyes, ostensibly a love story told through publicly accessible footage compiled from surveillance cameras, is yet another example of Xu having to wait for reality to catch up with his initial concept

We sit down with prolific German filmmaker Werner Herzog to discuss his life, legend and legacy – and why he rarely turns on his mobile phone – during his visit to this year’s Hong Kong International Film Festival

Chutimon Chuengcharoensukying began modelling at 15 years old and made her film debut in the entertaining Thai high-school caper about exam cheating. Now she is determined to break into more serious roles

The third instalment of a yakuza trilogy, a spaghetti western with a feminist makeover, a 4K restoration of a 40s classic, and a portrait of a controversial Buddhist monk are among the must-sees from 60 countries

Festival will open on March 19 with screenings of two feature debuts – Jay Chern’s Omotenashi and Maren Hwang’s Xiao Mei – while no Hong Kong film lover should miss the 14-film retrospective programme on Brigitte Lin

Director of classics including Fitzcarraldo and Aguirre, the wrath of God, and documentary Grizzly Man will give a public masterclass at festival in spring as he marks 50 years of feature-film making; actress Brigitte Lin also a guest

Opening with a romantic drama from Woody Allen and closing with the first feature in a decade from Paul Verhoeven, the festival presents some of the hottest titles from around the world

The Hong Kong International Film Festival says its ability to grow audience numbers and help foster the city's film culture is handicapped by the lack of government-run auditoriums that can screen digital movies - the bulk of its offerings. It's forced to use smaller commercial venues, where fewer tickets are available.

A violent love tragedy set in Wuhan won the hearts of a jury panel at last night's Asian Film Awards, becoming the biggest winner. Korean films led the race with 16 nominations, but mainland entry Mystery won best film, best screenwriter and best newcomer. Iranian love story Rhino Season won three technical awards.

Independent artists and filmmakers in the region will get some new ideas about financing at a forum that opens today - and crowdfunding is in the spotlight.

New Premier Li Keqiang unveils his new cabinet team as the National People's Congress plenary approaches its conclusion. Meanwhile, Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying touches down in Beijing for meetings with new ministers and senior officials.

Even before the Hong Kong Arts Festival ends on March 24, some local culture vultures are already looking ahead to another of the city's annual bumper cultural events.