Hong Kong's prestigious Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF) has officially announced the 25 remarkable titles selected for its upcoming 2025 edition, showcasing an eclectic mix of projects by some of Asia's most renowned filmmakers, including the celebrated Hirokazu Kore-eda and Stanley Kwan. This well-respected forum serves as a pivotal platform for emerging and established talent alike, and this year promises an exciting lineup.

Set to take place from March 17-19 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre during the 29th Hong Kong Filmart, the three-day event highlights the creativity thriving in the Asian film industry. Jacob Wong, the director of HKIFF Industry, emphasized the cultural richness represented in this year's submissions, which included a staggering total of 276 in-development projects from 45 countries, ranging from Hong Kong, Thailand, and Turkey to Japan, Kazakhstan, and South Korea.

Notably, this year's selection features an impressive representation of female directors, with nine projects led by women, alongside several collaborative efforts involving filmmakers from Asia, Europe, and North America. Wong pointed out, “The diversity and originality in storytelling reflect Hong Kong's unique position at the crossroads of the global film industry.”

Among the 25 selected projects, 13 have already secured partial funding, with budgets varying between $200,000 to $5 million. Keeping in line with HAF's commitment to nurturing new talent, 10 of the upcoming films will be directed by first-timers.

Highlighted projects include the compelling France-China collaboration *49 Days*, helmed by debut director Hu Wei. The narrative centers around a divorced Chinese couple who reluctantly reunite in Paris to handle their son's funeral, invoking a bittersweet confrontation with their past. Additionally, Indian director Niladri Mukherjee's film, *Republic of Mahalaxmi Apartment*, examines pressing societal issues through the eyes of a single mother who becomes the target of her community when she raises concerns about a broken elevator.

A pivotal entry from esteemed director Kore-eda is *Yellow*, directed by newcomer Yamaura Miyoh, which explores themes of guilt and self-punishment following a tragic accident. Another adaptation to spotlight is *2181 Overture* by Wang Kunlin, based on a Hugo Award-shortlisted novelette, capturing the profound struggle of a scientist waking up from cryogenic sleep while on a quest to find her daughter.

The festival also adds a horror twist with Hong Kong's own *Something in the Way*, directed by Fan Ka-chun, showcasing the psychological turmoil of a detective grappling with face blindness, and *Open Fire*, a crime action-drama involving a firefighter racing against time to save his wife during a catastrophic blaze.

In an exciting new development, this year's HAF will unveil a dedicated section featuring animation projects at various stages of production—a first for the forum. Participants are eagerly awaiting the reveal of these shortlisted animation titles in mid-February.

Additionally, while the biannual HKIFF Industry-CAA China Genre Initiative won't kick off until 2026, a new script development award will be introduced this year to encourage innovative genre storytelling in Chinese-language films.

Stay tuned as the Hong Kong International Film Festival Society prepares for a landmark edition featuring groundbreaking narratives and visionary filmmakers—an event that promises to redefine boundaries and elevate the global cinema landscape!

Check below for a full list of the selected projects for 2025:

- 2181 Overture, Mainland China, Canada - Director: Wang Kunlin - 49 Days, France, Mainland China - Director: Hu Wei - Aanaikatti Blues, India - Director: Arun Karthick - The Age of Goodbyes, Taiwan, Malaysia - Director: Edmund Yeo - Besik. Homecoming, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan - Director: Iskandar Usmonov - The Bird Chaser, Mainland China - Director: Zeng Zhi - The Circumciser, The Philippines - Director: Jun Robles Lana - Dead Tide, Malaysia - Director: Kethsvin Chee - Drive South Pray West, Thailand - Directors: Panu Aree, Kong Rithdee - Giant Salamander, Mainland China - Director: Yang Heng - Gone with the Wind, Mainland China - Director: Zhao Yanming - Indigo Boy, Taiwan - Director: Bill Chia - Innocent Flesh, Mainland China - Director: Lin Yihan - Lanka, India - Director: Saurav Rai - Mabui, Japan - Director: Fukunaga Takeshi - Open Fire, Hong Kong - Directors: Sze Pak-lam, Lau Wing-tai - Pivot, Turkey - Director: Melisa Önel - Republic of Mahalaxmi Apartment, India - Director: Niladri Mukherjee - See You There, Mainland China, Hong Kong - Director: Wong Yi-kwan - Seoulers, South Korea, USA - Directors: Hee Young Pyun, Jiajun Oscar Zhang - Somatization, Mainland China - Director: Sun Xiao - Something in the Way, Hong Kong - Director: Fan Ka-chun - A Stranger at My Door, Hong Kong, Mainland China - Director: Zheng Lu Xinyuan - Waves Under the Sea, Macau, Hong Kong, Mainland China - Director: Chan Sileong