Making Waves: Hong Kong Cinema 2025 @ Berlin

Following last year's successful debut, Making Waves: Navigators of Hong Kong Cinema, a touring film program dedicated to promoting emerging Hong Kong films and their talents, is returning to Berlin. The program, funded by the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA) of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, will be held from October 10 - 12, 2025, at Kino in der Kulturbrauerei.

Presented by the Hong Kong International Film Festival Society in collaboration with the Berlin NewGen Film Festival and the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Berlin, this year's edition will showcase a specially curated selection of films that highlight the creative energy and unique storytelling of Hong Kong's new cinematic voices. Audiences will also have the opportunity to meet with the directors and cast members who will  share their thoughts after the screenings.

The festival opens on October 10 (Fri) with Papa, a moving drama directed by Philip Yung which won Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress, and Best New Performer at the 43rd Hong Kong Film Awards.  The film portrays a father’s struggle with memory and guilt following a family tragedy.

Three films will be shown on October 11 (Sat), namely Four Trails, a documentary directed by Robin Lee, who won Best New Director at the 43rd Hong Kong Film Awards.  It is about one of the world's most challenging running races in Hong Kong’s country trails and its participants’ attempts to take on this ultra challenge.  The second film Good Game is an eSports drama from Dickson Leung Kwok-Fai which is about an internet café owner teaming up with a group of talented gamers to stage a comeback. Last Song for You, a poignant film by Jill Lai Yin Leung, is about the romance of a young couple sparked by the love of music which is rekindled decades later.

Montages of A Modern Motherhood will be shown on October 12 (Sun).  Director Chan Oliver Siu Kuen tells the struggles of a working mother navigating the complexities of expectation, identity, and love from a female perspective. The German premiere of Cesium Fallout, a star-studded disaster film directed by Anthony Pun, will also be shown on the same day.  Featuring  Andy Lau and Karen Mok, the film is about a group of government officials and firemen’s race to prevent a deadly radiation crisis.

We are honoured to welcome the directors and cast of these films to Berlin to meet the audience and to share their thoughts after the screenings.