After cancelling HKIFF44 last year, this year's edition of Hong Kong International Film Festival will go ahead as a hybrid event with both in-theatre and online screenings as well as audience-engagement events citing the continued impact of Covid-19.

Hong Kong International Film Festival Society executive director, Albert Lee said that the hybrid event for HKIFF45 will allow audiences to connect through an online platform without sacrificing the irreplaceable big-screen cinematic experience. Other film festivals in the region have also followed the hybrid model and enjoyed relative success.

"The Covid-19 pandemic had severely disrupted the international film festival circuit last year. Many festivals, including our very own HKIFF44, were either cancelled or forced to move online," Lee said. "With the pandemic showing few signs of abating, we recognise the proactive need to confront the challenges by adding an online component to our festival for the first time," he adds.

Scheduled for April 1–12, 2021, the HKIFF45 will also offer online streaming of some of the seminars, post-screening talks and other events that will let the audience enjoy greater flexibility in choosing how they wish to participate. Lee said that the Society will announce more details of the hybrid event including its programme and ticketing arrangements at a later date.

He vowed that the Society will continue to monitor the Covid-19 situation closely and comply with health protocols and social distancing measures mandated by the government to ensure public safety.

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