The ASEAN Film Festival 2024 features a lineup of over 20 films and nine sharing sessions with ASEAN filmmakers. Local film industry professionals and university students from both local and ASEAN countries were invited to participate in dialogues spanning regions, cultures, and generations.

Many of the ASEAN filmmakers expressed their excitement about visiting Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland and their eagerness to collaborate across regions to infuse the film industry with fresh ideas and energy.

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During one of the sharing sessions at the festival, the creative team behind the Thai tearjerker How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies, said that the festival will help them connect with a wider international audience and foster better understanding between Hong Kong and ASEAN countries.

Pat Boonnitipat, director of the movie, said that the event marked the movie’s debut at an international film festival, adding that he felt honored and excited to have received his invitation.

Boonnitipat, who has visited the city over 30 times, said that the festival marks his first visit to Hong Kong in the role of a movie director.

The festival is a significant platform for presenting Southeast Asian films to broader and more diverse audiences, thereby fostering cross-border communications, Boonnitipat said.

Boonnitipat said he hopes that audiences in the city can perceive the sincerity that has been woven into the film, as every member of the team had injected their genuine emotions into its making. “I would like to express my gratitude to all the Hong Kong audiences who came to see the movie.”

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The audience also demonstrated a keen interest in the idea cultivation process and different cultural backgrounds after the screenings and sharing sessions.

A journalism student surnamed Ho said that he was delighted to discover the innovative style of film-making prevalent in ASEAN countries and how it diverged from the norms in Hong Kong, Japan, or Korea.

Psychology student Chan said that the festival sparked her curiosity to explore more ASEAN films.