HONG KONG – The 50th Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF) will run from April 1 to 12, featuring more than 215 works from 71 countries and regions, and drawing several internationally renowned filmmakers to the city.

The program highlights include 11 world premieres, 4 international premieres, and 49 Asian premieres, with more than 320 screenings scheduled throughout the festival.

This year’s opening film is We Are All Strangers, directed by Singaporean filmmaker Anthony Chen. Notably, it is the first Singaporean feature to be selected for the main competition at the Berlin International Film Festival.

Esteemed Chinese mainland directors Jia Zhangke and Chen Kaige, Academy Award-winning French actress Juliette Binoche, and Hong Kong auteur Ann Hui On-wah are among the prominent guests expected to engage with local audiences.

Established in 1976, the Hong Kong International Film Festival is one of Asia’s longest-running and most prestigious film festivals.

Consumption voucher distribution

WeChat Pay HK has collaborated with the Commerce Bureau of Shenzhen’s Nanshan district to launch the “2026 Nanshan District Inbound Consumption Voucher Program”, under which over HK$10 million worth of consumption vouchers will be distributed to verified WeChat Pay HK users.

The first phase of the program will run from April 1 to June 30, with vouchers available daily starting at 10:00 am. The vouchers can be redeemed at popular dining and retail outlets, as well as the Nanshan’s Coastal City commercial district, offering users a 40 percent discount upon meeting designated spending thresholds.

The campaign has also partnered with multiple cross-border transport platforms, including Trans-Island Chinalink Bus Co Ltd and DiDi Global Inc.

Users can claim half-price coupons for Trans-Island Chinalink’s direct shuttle bus services to Shenzhen Bay Port. After arriving in Shenzhen, they can redeem further discounts on DiDi ride-hailing services for immediate fare savings.

Precision manufacturing

The 27th ITES Industry Expo is set to be held from March 31 to April 3 at Shenzhen World Exhibition and Convention Center (Bao'an New Hall).

It will feature five core sub-exhibitions, covering high-end metal-cutting equipment, sheet metal and metalworking solutions, robotics and automation, precision component design and manufacturing, and the medical supply chain ecosystem.

This year’s expo is expected to gather over 1,500 exhibitors and hold over 80 themed forums, as well as connect top industrial suppliers with policymakers from across the manufacturing sector.