Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The Chinese Film Panorama 2025, jointly presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) and the Southern Film Culture Foundation, will be held from September 10 to October 29. Twelve films produced on the Mainland with a variety of styles and themes will be screened, and two of the films were selected for free screenings for public appreciation.
The opening film, “Always Have Always Will” (2025), follows a man with hard luck unexpectedly going on a road trip full of laughter and tears with a quirky young girl, bringing a glimmer of light into each other’s gloomy lives.
“Enjoy Yourself” (2024) tells the story of a divorced couple crossing paths with an older couple who have lost their only child, exploring the balance between love and letting go. Depicting the absurdities of the adult world through a child’s perspective, “Day Dreaming” (2024) is the story of the fantasies of a mischievous transfer student Zhu Tong becoming reality, setting off a chain of bizarre events. In “Brief History of A Family” (2024), the seemingly happy life of a middle-class family of three is disrupted by the arrival of a teenager. In the guise of a suspense thriller, the film depicts the impacts faced by families in a modern world. Using an unconventional narrative and structure, “Land of Broken Hearts” (2024) depicts the journey of delicate love between two imperfect urban youths, from confrontation to mutual understanding.
“Viva La Vida” (2024) follows a young man and a young woman, both suffering from serious illnesses, entering a contract to carry each other through the final days of their lives. Seasoned with humour, the film shows the tenacity and stoicism of humanity. Based on a true story, “Stand By Me” (2024) tells the story of a street youth and an orphan looking out for each other to survive their cruel reality while growing up side by side. “I Love You, to the Moon, and Back” (2024) follows a married couple who are separated geographically and each boards a train looking forward to reuniting with the other during the Mid-autumn Festival, only to keep passing each other by. In disappointments and hopes, they gain a deeper insight into the power of love. “Tale of the Night” (2023) takes viewers on an emotional journey through a city with the stories of ordinary people, highlighted by the popular spots of the city of Changsha.
In “Gone with the Boat” (2024), after an elderly woman has been diagnosed with a brain tumour, her children bicker over the best way forward. Through depicting the woman facing the passing of her life with grace, the film offers deep insights into death and family relations. “Eye for an Eye 2” (2024) follows a blind swordsman avenging a tragedy caused by the people in power turning a blind eye, while the world sees clearly the rotten reality. The animated feature “I Am What I Am 2” (2024) continues the inspiration and passion of its predecessor while showcasing again the prowess of Chinese animation. In the film, a young lion dancer signs up for a martial arts tournament to raise money for his ailing father. He faces not only formidable opponents but also prejudices and his internal struggles.
Admission to the following two films will be free by ticket. Each person can obtain up to two tickets per screening on a first-come, first-served basis. Details of ticket distribution are as follows:
| Film |
Screening location and date |
Details of ticket distribution |
| “Tale of the Night” |
Rayson Huang Theatre of the University of Hong Kong (September 12) |
To be distributed at the University of Hong Kong Staff Association located at 5/F, T.T. Tsui Building from September 1 (every Monday to Friday) |
| Cine-Art House (Maritime Square) (September 14) |
To be distributed at the screening location from September 1 |
| “I Am What I Am 2” |
Auditorium of North District Town Hall (September 28) |
To be distributed at the screening location from September 14 |
| Lecture Hall of the Hong Kong Science Museum (October 11) |
To be distributed at the screening location from September 22 (every Monday to Wednesday and Friday to Sunday) |
Other films will be shown at the Grand Theatre of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, the Cinema of the Hong Kong Film Archive, and the Lecture Hall of the Hong Kong Space Museum. Tickets priced at $75 are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone bookings, please call 3166 1288. For programme details, please call 2734 2900 (LCSD) or 2385 7053 (Southern Film Culture Foundation) or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/fp/en/listing.html?id=81.
Accompanying the screenings, two post-screening talks in Cantonese will be held on September 13 after the screening of “Day Dreaming” at the Hong Kong Film Archive and on October 18 after the screening of “Eye for an Eye 2” at the Hong Kong Space Museum respectively. Ticket holders of the screening with post-screening talk will be admitted with priority.
The Chinese Film Panorama 2025 is also one of the activities in the Chinese Culture Promotion Series. The LCSD has long been promoting Chinese history and culture through organising an array of programmes and activities to enable the public to learn more about the broad and profound Chinese culture. For more information, please visit www.ccpo.gov.hk/en.