Hong Kong Asian Film Festival 2023: 11 of the best movies to catch, from Song Kang-ho vehicle Cobweb to Perfect Days, Koji Yakusho’s award-winning collaboration with Wim Wenders

The 20th HKAFF features new documentaries, shorts, and masterclasses with Cannes best actor winner Koji Yakusho and Korean superstar Song Kang-ho

Here are 11 films you don’t want to miss, from Cobweb (with Song Kang-ho) to In Broad Daylight (with Jennifer Yu) and Perfect Days (Koji Yakusho)

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Koji Yakusho in a still from Perfect Days, one of our picks of the best movies to catch from the Hong Kong Asian Film Festival 2023.

Published: 5:45pm, 5 Oct 2023

The Hong Kong Asian Film Festival (HKAFF) celebrates its 20th edition later this month with a packed schedule of features, documentaries and short films from around the region.

The festival will host the local premieres of a number of highlights from this year’s Cannes and Venice film festivals, including new works from Japanese Oscar winner Ryusuke Hamaguchi, Korean titans Ryoo Seung-wan and Kim Jee-woon, as well as emerging talent from Hong Kong and further afield.

More exciting than any of the films screening, perhaps, are the masterclasses with two of the biggest actors currently working in Asia. This year’s Cannes best actor winner Koji Yakusho will be at the festival, as will 2022’s recipient of the same prize, Korean superstar Song Kang-ho. Both are set to discuss their careers in person.

Below we have selected 11 films not to be missed from this year’s line-up.

1. Cobweb

The festival’s opening film sees superstar Song Kang-ho and director Kim Jee-woon reunite for a black comedy about a frustrated filmmaker (Song) obsessed with reshooting the climax of his new movie.