不經不覺，香港亞洲電影節 (HKAFF) 己經籌辦到第五屆了！今年繼續以發掘亞洲好戲、推動年輕導演創作為己任，在芸芸60多個電影節目、近80部作品當中，選眏的四分一作品便是導演的第一、二部作品，一如香港亞洲電影節般年輕有活力！

既然是5周年，我們便一改形象，不再以過去的漫畫形象示人，改以影象及人氣作主打，一新觀眾的耳目，並希望增加我們的時代感，給人一種獨立有朝氣、多黠亞洲味道的感覺。

近年的東南亞作品水準提高，除了在掌握技術方面日漸成熟之外，在題材上不乏大膽創新之作，馬來西亞的《出賣》，以音樂劇的形式諷刺媒體，尖酸得來幽默抵死。印尼的《那一年的照相館》和《我無曳》，前者淡然而具韻味，後者譜寫出現代女性的境况，以及一段既愛且恨的母女關係。另外，不用多提的是新加坡的陳子謙、菲律賓的萬杜薩，他們的作品均在HKAFF亮相，相信大家不會陌生。

另外一提的是「日本PIA影展30年祭」，這位日本獨立影壇的老大哥，培育了不少新晉導演，是不少業內海外影展效法的對象。而今年「焦點導演」的魯里．比茲．舍蘭，則讓影迷一口氣看勻他的所有作品，更進一步了解這位新晉大師。最後不得不提的是「亞洲經典」中《夏旱》，直接從馬田．史高西斯主理的世界電影基金中運送到港，影迷萬勿
錯過！

How time flies – this is already the 5th Hong Kong Asian Film Festival! This year, we continue our mission of discovering quality Asian films and supporting young film directors. Among the festival’s selection of over 60 programmes with close to 80 films to be shown, a quarter of them belong to the filmmaker’s either debut or second film. These films, one can say, are in the same spirit of HKAFF - filled with vitality and energy!

To commemorate our 5th anniversary, we decide to replace our previous comics theme with refreshing cinematic style. Such change is a boost to the festival’s contemporariness, as well as exudes spirits of independence, vigour and a unique Asian style.

In recent years, films from Southeast Asia have been gathering momentum to generate a significant cine-force, getting more sophisticated technically, and more daring and innovative thematically. SELL OUT! from Malaysia makes use of the musical format as a satire on the media, and the resulting film is sarcastic, humorous and hilarious. THE PHOTOGRAPH and THEY SAY, I AM MONEKY! are two films from Indonesia. While the former is collected and charming, the latter vividly portrays how life is for modern days’ women and the love-hate relationship between a mother and a daughter. Moreover, HKAFF “regulars” such as Royston Tan from Singapore and Brillante Mendoza from the Philippines, will again show their latest films at this year’s festival.

Another section that is worth special attention is the Japan PIA Film Festival 30th Anniversary feature - this unique film festival has long served as a cradle for many up and coming independent directors and since its inception has become a role model for local and overseas festivals alike. Nuri Bilge Ceylan from Turkey is this year’s Director in Focus; cineastes can take this chance to view all his works and to gain deeper understanding of this new master. Last but not the least, DRY SUMMER included in Asian Classics section is sent to the festival directly from World Cinema Fondation (managed by Martin Scorsese) this is a film that no cineaste should miss out!