Hong Kong Kids International Film Festival returns with Cantopop singer Kelly Chen and YouTube star ‘Tung Tung’ as ambassadors
- Festival features 11 films from around the world, including ‘Dounia and the Princess of Aleppo’, an animated movie about a young girl from Syria fleeing war, and Norwegian flick ‘Just Super’
- Movies can educate kids and bring families closer together, says Chen
(L to R) Singer Kelly Chen Wai-lam and YouTuber Christy Choi Hiu-tung meet the press at Elements Mall in West Kowloon. Photo: Jonathan WongThe Hong Kong Kids International Film Festival (KIFF) returns next month, offering young people a chance to immerse themselves in the world of cinema and explore different cultures through film.
This year’s ambassadors are Cantopop star and actress Kelly Chen Wai-lam and Christy Choi Hiu-tung, commonly known as Tung Tung, a member of the popular YouTube channel Pomato.
The festival, now in its seventh year, was organised by the non-profit organisation 3SPACE and Golden Scene Company Limited. Beginning July 29, it will feature 11 films, including animated movies like Best Birthday Ever from Germany and the 1994 Disney classic Lion King.
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“The films selected by KIFF were chosen [so] kids could watch and learn,” said Chen, who recommended Dounia and the Princess of Aleppo. The film tells the story of a young Syrian girl embarking on a journey with her grandparents to find a new home as a war refugee.
“[It] talks about the damage of war from a child’s point of view. At the same time, it brings the audience into a fantasy world,” Chen added.
The 50-year-old singer, a mother of two sons, believes movies can educate future generations and bring families closer together. She said Shaolin Soccer, the 2001 Hong Kong sports comedy directed by and starring Stephen Chow Sing-chi, was her kids’ favourite. The film revolves around a former Shaolin monk using his martial arts skills to play football and promote kung fu.
“After watching this movie, [my elder son] urged his father and younger brother to film a short [video] … about using kung fu to fight for food,” she shared.
Movies can leave a lasting impact on a person. Choi said the films she watched as a child have influenced the content she creates for YouTube, saying she was inspired by the work of renowned Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki and Pixar movies like The Incredibles.
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“I wanted to [have a superpower] so badly, so I thought to myself: ‘I must film it when I when I grow up,’” she said, adding that she has since done so with her team.
The festival will be divided into three categories: “1st Movie Experience” consists of animated films for kids from two to five years old who are watching a movie in the cinema for the first time; “Parent-Child Movie Time” features animated films for kids aged six to 11 that will spark meaningful family conversations; and “Hangout & Film Appreciation” offers dramas for teens aged 12 to 16 that they can watch with their friends.
The festival will kick off with Just Super, a Norwegian computer-animated superhero flick nominated for Best Film at this year’s Berlin International Film Festival, and close with Australian drama Blueback, which follows a child who befriends a magnificent wild blue groper fish while diving.
The KIFF Carnival will also return this year after a three-year pause due to coronavirus. Taking place at Elements mall in Kowloon, the carnival will offer family-friendly photo booths and workshops for the public.
One of the carnival’s highlights is KIFF Shorts, a series of more than 20 short films collected from around the world, including the United States and countries less well-known by Hong Kong audiences, such as the Czech Republic, Estonia and Slovenia. Kids can watch the shorts in a pop-up Mini Forest Theatre.
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“Children may find it difficult to concentrate and finish a film if they watch it at home,” Chen explained. “However, when they visit places outside their homes and see the interesting interior, they may become more curious and interested in the screening.”
Meanwhile, the “Behind the Cine” workshop will allow children to experience what it is like to work in a cinema and could be a valuable opportunity to cultivate children’s interest in films, given their limited exposure to movies in the classroom, Choi said.
“After taking part in the workshops, they may realise the film industry can be interesting and full of possibilities. This may also plant a seed for their future careers,” she said.
KIFF Film Festival
Date: July 29 – August 6 , 2023
Venues: Premiere Elements Cinema 2/F, Shop 2130, Elements, 1 Austin Road West, Kowloon and Golden Scene Cinema, 2 Catchick Street, Kennedy Town
Tickets: HK$100 regular price; HK$80 student/child/senior
Check out the schedule for a list of movie times
KIFF Carnival
Date: July 20 – September 3 , 2023
Venue: 1/F, Water Zone, Elements, 1 Austin Road West, Kowloon
Entry fee: Free
Monday to Friday 11am – 8pm
Weekends and public holidays 11am – 9pm
KIFF Shorts
Screening Period: August 7 to September 3, 2023
Entry fee: Free
Venue: 1/F Water Zone, Elements, 1 Austin Road West, Kowloon