Cine Fan Jan/Feb/Mar 2026 Programme
Venue: Louis Koo Cinema, Hong Kong Arts Centre
Date: 2026.01.10 - 2026.03.15
Price: $75
Presented by: Hong Kong International Film Festival Society
Cine Fan will welcome 2026 with an edition that offers diverse perspectives on regionally rooted cinema. It will highlight John Cassavetes, a pioneer of American independent filmmaking, along with a retrospective of the Egyptian master Youssef Chahine. Despite their contrasting styles, both directors transcended conventions, using cinema to portray raw human emotion and social realities.
Titled 'Unscripted Life: The Cinema of John Cassavetes', the retrospective showcases all 12 films that Cassavetes directed. The programme provides a comprehensive overview of his low-budget, improvisation-led approach, characterised by a jazz-like camera style that moves instinctively and allows actors to seek emotional truth. His debut, Shadows, which received acclaim for its bold interplay of sound and image, is widely credited with launching the American independent film movement. Meanwhile, the landmark film Faces solidified Cassavetes' distinctive voice.
Cassavetes collaborated with his wife and muse, Gena Rowlands, on ten films, all notable for their remarkable creative synergy. These include A Woman Under the Influence and Opening Night, which earned Rowlands Best Actress awards at the Golden Globe and the Berlinale, respectively. Their commercial hit Gloria triumphed at Venice, and Love Streams won at Berlin. Cassavetes, who began his career as an actor, also appeared in some of his own films, including Husbands and Minnie and Moskowitz. Additionally, he starred in Roman Polanski's Rosemary's Baby and Elaine May's Mikey and Nicky, lending his performances added resonance when viewed alongside his directorial work.
To mark the centenary of his birth next year, 'Of Land and Men – The Social Cinema of Youssef Chahine' will feature six seminal films that highlight the celebrated director's ambition. Chahine's filmography includes the melodrama The Blazing Sun, the neo-realist crime thriller Cairo Station, the rural drama The Land, the fable-like adaptation The Return of the Prodigal Son, the autobiographical Alexandria…Why?, and the epic Destiny.
Complementing Chahine's films, which examine the tension between tradition and modernity amid Egypt's transformation, 'Of Identity and Imagination – The Shifting Landscapes of Arab Cinema' will present six significant works that demonstrate the breadth and power of Arab cinema. Algeria's The Battle of Algiers and Chronicle of the Years of Fire, rich in historical authenticity and dramatic force, won the Golden Lion at Venice and the Palme d'Or at Cannes, respectively. The Night of Counting the Years stands as a counterpart to Chahine's The Land in Egyptian cinema. At the same time, Wedding in Galilee, The Silences of the Palace, and West Beirut offer vivid insights into Palestinian/Israeli society, Tunisia, and Lebanon.
In tribute to two iconic actresses who recently passed away, Cine Fan will showcase Diane Keaton's career-defining performance in Woody Allen's Annie Hall and her only directorial feature, the documentary Heaven. From Luchino Visconti's Palme d'Or-winning epic The Leopard to Sergio Leone's classic western, Once Upon a Time in the West, Claudia Cardinale's alluring screen persona will shine through two landmark works.
The complete programme and schedule for Cine Fan's January/February/March edition are available at https://cinefan.com.hk. Tickets for all screenings will go on sale to the public from 19 December via URBTIX.
Programme enquiry：(852) 2970 3300 / info@hkiff.org.hk
Website：https://www.hkiff.org.hk/
Ticketing：
URBTIX
Counter Booking: URBTIX Outlets
Internet Booking: www.urbtix.hk
Telephone Booking: 3166 1288 (10am-8pm)
Mobile App: URBTIX (Android, HarmonyOS and iPhone/iPad)
Ticketing Enquiries: 3166-1100 (10am - 8pm)
Counter Booking: URBTIX Outlets
Internet Booking: www.urbtix.hk
Telephone Booking: 3166 1288 (10am-8pm)
Mobile App: URBTIX (Android, HarmonyOS and iPhone/iPad)
Ticketing Enquiries: 3166-1100 (10am - 8pm)
What's On
Others
Hong Kong Arts Centre
2026.03.31 - 2026.06.23
Art Fairs
Hong Kong Arts Centre
2026.03.21 - 2026.03.29
Workshop
15/F, Hong Kong Arts Centre, 2 Harbour Road, Wan Chai
2026.02.08 - 2026.03.20
