A Glimpse at the 44th Hong Kong Film Awards Nominees

Images Courtesy of Hong Kong Film Awards Association
Written by Fête Chinoise Editorial Team.

As the countdown begins for the 44th Hong Kong Film Awards, anticipation is building in Hong Kong and also among audiences in Canada. Scheduled to take place on April 19, 2026 at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, the annual awards remain a key celebrations of Hong Kong and Chinese-language cinema.

Following the announcement of nominations on February 10, the Hong Kong Film Awards have released a new set of portraits featuring this year’s shortlisted contenders in major categories, including Best Director, Best Actor and Actress, and Best New Director.

For audiences in Canada, where Hong Kong cinema has long maintained a dedicated following through festivals, cinema releases, and diasporic communities, the release adds to the lead-up to the ceremony. As these films and filmmakers continue to travel across borders, the awards carry resonance well beyond their home city.

Nominations

BEST FILM

Another World《世外》

Ciao, UFO《再見UFO》

Sons of the Neon Night《風林火山》

Back to the Past《尋秦記》

She’s Got No Name《醬園弄‧懸案》

Best Actor 最佳男主角

Louis Koo Behind the Shadows 古天樂《私家偵探》

CHEUNG Kai Chung Louis Golden Boy 張繼聰《金童》

LEUNG Ka Fai Tony The Shadow’s Edge 梁家輝《捕風追影》

Louis KOO Back to the Past 古天樂《尋秦記》

Carlos CHAN Someone Like Me 陳家樂《像我這樣的愛情》

Best Actress 最佳女主角

MA Li The Dumpling Queen 馬麗《水餃皇后》

Natalie HSU My First of May 許恩怡《無名指》

Fish LIEW Someone Like Me 廖子妤《像我這樣的愛情》

ZHANG Ziyi She’s Got No Name 章子怡《醬園弄．懸案》

Fala CHEN Peg O’ My Heart 陳法拉《贖夢》

Best Director 最佳導演

Shu Qi Girl 舒淇《女孩》

Tommy NG Kai Chung Another World 吳啓忠《世外》

Patrick LEUNG Pak Kin Ciao, UFO 梁栢堅《再見UFO》

Jonathan LI, CHOU Man Yu Behind the Shadows 李子俊、周汶儒《私家偵探》

Peter Ho-sun CHAN, HAN Shuai She’s Got No Name 陳可辛、韓帥《醬園弄．懸案》

Best New Director 新晉導演

Shu Qi Girl 舒淇《女孩》

Tommy NG Kai Chung Another World 吳啓忠《世外》

Patrick LEUNG Pak Kin Ciao, UFO 龔兆平《他年她日》

Jonathan LI, CHOU Man Yu Behind the Shadows 麥浚龍《風林火山》

Peter Ho-sun CHAN, HAN Shuai She’s Got No Name 郭家禧、李振傑《UFO離奇命案》

More from Fête Chiniose

A Glimpse at the 44th Hong Kong Film Awards Nominees

Zhang Ziyi, Jia Zhang-ke and Hwang Dong-hyuk Lead Asian Film Awards Weekend

The 19th Asian Film Awards brought together leading stars and rising talents, with Zhang Ziyi receiving top honours while Liu Haoran and Terrance Lau captured the spotlight amid a weekend of screenings, talks, and cultural exchange.

Sunshine Women's Choir Sets to Move North American Audience《陽光女子合唱團》

Breaking box office records within just 60 days and surpassing the milestone held for nearly 18 years by Cape No. 7《海角七號》, the Taiwanese hit Sunshine Women’s Choir《陽光女子合唱團》has become the first film in Taiwan’s history to exceed NT$700 million at the box office.

Back to the Past《尋秦記》: Hong Kong’s Beloved Drama Sequel Hits North America

Fans of the classic TVB series A Step into the Past have long awaited this moment, and it’s finally here! Back to the Past is the highly anticipated cinematic sequel that brings the beloved characters and thrilling storylines of the original 2001 series to the big screen.

My First of May: Aaron Kwok and Natalie Hsu Stars in Tender Family Drama of Love and Sacrifice

My First of May will warm audiences’ hearts this New Year with its North American premiere on January 16. Written and directed by rising filmmaker James Hung, the film is a tender, realistic portrayal of a father-daughter relationship, the pursuit of dreams, and the resilience needed to face life’s challenges. Spanning three generations, the story delicately explores the bonds of family and the preciousness of every moment.

Fala Chen, Colin Farrell, and Edward Berger Attend Canadian Premiere of Ballad of a Small Player 《小人物之歌》 at TIFF 2025

Colin Farrell, Fala Chen, and director Edward Berger attended the Canadian premiere of Ballad of a Small Player 《小人物之歌》 at TIFF 2025. Set in the neon-lit world of Macau’s casinos, the film follows Lord Doyle (Farrell), a washed-up gambler offered a second chance by the enigmatic Dao Ming (Chen), while pursued by a relentless investigator (Tilda Swinton). Directed by Edward Berger (All Quiet on the Western Front), the film also stars Deanie Ip and Alex Jennings.

Shu Qi Makes North American Directorial Debut with Girl at TIFF《女孩》

Shu Qi 舒淇 made her North American directorial debut with the world premiere of Girl at the Toronto International Film Festival on the afternoon of September 9, warmly welcomed by an enthusiastic crowd of loyal fans. Set in Taiwan in 1988, Girl follows the story of Hsiao-lee, a quiet and withdrawn teenager living under the weight of silent sorrow. Her world begins to shift after meeting Li-li, a vibrant, carefree classmate whose friendship rekindles long-suppressed dreams.

Rooted in Memory: Four Intimate Visions of Asian Cinema at TIFF 2025

In its continuing showcase of bold and nuanced storytelling, TIFF 2025 highlights a diverse range of Asian cinema that grounds the personal in the political, and the poetic in the everyday. This latest selection of films brings together a quartet of distinct directorial voices from Hong Kong, Taiwan, Hungary, and China, each examining the quiet revolutions within private lives.

Unfolding Stories: A First Look at Asian Cinema at TIFF 2025

In this first roundup, we look at five standout films: The Sun Rises on Us All, Palimpsest: The Story of a Name, Lucky Lu, Amoeba, and Girl, each distinct in tone and style, yet deeply connected by emotional resonance and cultural reflection. These stories span geographies and genres: from Guangzhou’s aching past to the immigrant realities of New York, from the haunting intimacy of family trauma to the rebellion of young women pushing against systemic constraint. Some films confront generational wounds or buried identities; others capture moments of quiet survival or poetic self-reinvention.

Making Waves Montreal Announces 2025 Lineup

Making Waves Montreal 2025 returns from September 18–20 at Cinéma Cineplex Forum, showcasing six new Hong Kong films, including The Last Dance: Extended Version starring Dayo Wong and Michael Hui, Papa by Philip Yung with Sean Lau, and My First of May starring Aaron Kwok and Gigi Leung. Meet filmmakers and talent in exclusive post-screening Q&As.

Your TIFF 2025 Film Guide: Spotlight on Chinese and Asian Creators

TIFF 2025 is almost here, and this year’s lineup is packed with boundary-pushing stories from across Asia and the diaspora. To help you navigate the lineup, we’ve rounded up some of the most exciting films from Chinese and Asian filmmakers premiering at the festival, spanning historical epics, haunting dramas, offbeat comedies, and supernatural tales.

Rewind to the Present: TAPE《錄影歹》, a Raw and Thrilling Hong Kong remake of Richard Linklater’s 2001 Film

After a successful festival run including a screening at the Raindance Film Festival, the Hong Kong adaptation of Richard Linklater’s TAPE is set to hit UK cinemas from 22 August 2025. The film brings new cultural depth and dramatic intensity to the classic one-room thriller. Stay tuned for more screening updates, including upcoming showings in Canada!