| I am sure you're wondering which films you should watch this year. Of course, I would recommend all of our films. Our team has watched hundreds of films this year. We have narrowed it down to 32 programs, 55 films. We think these are the best films and will touch Hong Kong audience’s hearts. Our film list probably is one of the most diverse film selection in recent years. From one queer/trans program last year, we have topped up to 5 queer/trans programs. CLOSE KNIT and A FANTASTIC WOMAN are the most popular trans film in the festival circuit and most of our films have screened at the biggest film festivals in the world or are award-winning films. Our opening film, 120 BEATS PER MINUTE (which won four accolades at Cannes including the Grand Prix award and the Queer Palm) is the powerful film based on the Paris chapter of the AIDS NGO Act Up and the stories of their activists in the 1990’s. Director Pedro Almodovar broke down in tears when he watch the film. Another opening film is the French romantic comedy, KISS ME! by out director and actress Océane Rose Marie. She is very well-known in France. She will attend the opening gala. With the stressful lifestyle in Hong Kong, we all need a good laugh from time to time. We will bring you two comedies for our closing night. One of the closing films, FREAK SHOW, is directed by Trudie Styler who is married to singer Sting. The gender queer film has such high production value. If you love，Bette Midler fashion and drag queens, you should not miss this film. Not to mention you could see Bette Midler in the movie. THE FEELS is a lesbian film starring the very funny Taiwanese-American comedic actress Constance Wu (Fresh Off the Boat) who plays soon to be married Andi. A film about a Lesbian Bachelorette Weekend with revelations. You’ll leave with a belly full of laughs! As one of the longest running LGBT film festivals in Asia, we are carrying on the Asia Focus program as usual. We have five Asian films in total. We have two Hong Kong short films this year. To encourage more local people to create films, we will organise three panels to talk LGBT and film production 101. The panels are free. Please RSVP. I hope to see you at the cinema. Please do send us an email or Facebook us if you have any feedback on our film festival. And also thank you to Wankapo for designing this year's cute guidebook cover. Joe Lam HKLGFF Director |