Chinese Mainland Film Panorama 2026: Showcasing 12 Films from October 6 to November 15

Chinese Mainland Film Panorama 2026 showcases creative potential of filmmakers

The Chinese Mainland Film Panorama 2026, jointly presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) and the Southern Film Culture Foundation, will be held from October 6 to November 15. Featuring 12 feature films, some accompanied by short films, the Panorama showcases the creative journey of Chinese Mainland directors.

The opening film, animation "Nobody" (2025), reimagines a spin-off story from the classic epic "Journey to the West". A band of nameless little monsters embark on an adventure that mirrors workplace setbacks, dilemmas in life, and the determination to pursue dreams.

Several feature films delve into dilemmas and emotional attachments in modern times. "Laughing to Die" (2015) portrays the hardships of an elderly person living alone in a rural village. In "Like Winds, Like Weeds" (2023), a divorced middle-aged woman returns to her hometown from the city only to find everything has changed. "The Midsummer's Voice" (2024) centres on the anxieties of adolescent Peking opera actors. "Linka Linka" (2025) confronts unresolved knots from the protagonist's childlihood.

Some of the films reflect on the dejections of ordinary people. In "Chongqing Hot Pot" (2016), hotpot restaurant owners accidentally breach a bank vault, plunging them into a whirlwind of absurd events. The crime comedy "My Dear Liar" (2019) revolves around an insurance fraud, unveiling the emotional struggles of city dwellers. "A Long Shot" (2024) depicts a retired shooter who finally steps up against rampant gangs.

The Panorama also features two works about time travel. In "Hi, Mom" (2021), the protagonist travels back to the 1980s to rewrite her mother's tragic fate. In "Escape from the 21st Century" (2024), high school students who gain the superpower of time travel embark on a summer adventure.

Inspired by the legend "The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl", the animation "Into the Mortal World" (2024) paints an adventure spanning the divine and mortal realms of two siblings. "The Legend of Hei II" (2025) follows the cat spirit Hei and his companion as they track down the culprit of a murder, seeking answers to the co-existence of spirits and humankind in the process.

Admission to screenings of "Into the Mortal World" and "Hi, Mom" will be free of charge. No tickets are required for the screening of "Into the Mortal World" at the Salisbury Garden Central Lawn in Tsim Sha Tsui at 7pm on September 12. For other free screenings, tickets are required for admission. Each person can obtain up to two tickets per screening on a first-come, first-served basis, while stocks last. Details of ticket distribution are as follows:

Film

Location and date

Details of ticket distribution

"Into the Mortal World"

The Spot of the East Kowloon Cultural Centre (November 1)

To be distributed at the East Kowloon Cultural Centre Information Counter fromOctober 16

"Hi, Mom"

Rayson Huang Theatre of the University of Hong Kong (October 10)

To be distributed at the University of Hong Kong Staff Association located at 5/F, T.T. Tsui Building, from September 15 (every Monday to Friday)

Auditorium of North District Town Hall (November 7)

To be distributed at the Office at North District Town Hall from October 24

Other films will be shown at the Theatre of Hong Kong City Hall, the Cinema of the Hong Kong Film Archive (HKFA), and the Lecture Hall of the Hong Kong Space Museum. Tickets priced at $75 are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone bookings, please call 3166 1288. For programme enquiries, please call 2734 2900 (LCSD) or 2385 7053 (Southern Film Culture Foundation), or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/fp/en/listing.html?id=96.

Post-screening talks will be held following the screening of "My Dear Liar" on October 10 and "Escape from the 21st Century" on October 17 at the HKFA. The talks will be conducted in Cantonese. Ticket holders for these screenings will enjoy priority admission to the talks.

The Chinese Mainland Film Panorama 2026is one of the activities in the Chinese Culture Promotion Series. The LCSD has long been promoting Chinese history and culture through organising an array of programmes and activities to enable the public to learn more about the broad and profound Chinese culture. For more information, please visit www.ccpo.gov.hk/en/.

The Chinese Mainland Film Panorama 2026, jointly presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and the Southern Film Culture Foundation, will be held from October 6 to November 15. Photo shows a film still of "Into the Mortal World" (2024). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Chinese Mainland Film Panorama 2026, jointly presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and the Southern Film Culture Foundation, will be held from October 6 to November 15. Photo shows a film still of "The Legend of Hei II" (2025). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Chinese Mainland Film Panorama 2026, jointly presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and the Southern Film Culture Foundation, will be held from October 6 to November 15. Photo shows a film still of "Escape from the 21st Century" (2024). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Chinese Mainland Film Panorama 2026, jointly presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and the Southern Film Culture Foundation, will be held from October 6 to November 15. Photo shows a film still of "Hi, Mom" (2021). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Chinese Mainland Film Panorama 2026, jointly presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and the Southern Film Culture Foundation, will be held from October 6 to November 15. Photo shows a film still of "Chongqing Hot Pot" (2016). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Chinese Mainland Film Panorama 2026, jointly presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and the Southern Film Culture Foundation, will be held from October 6 to November 15. Photo shows a film still of "A Long Shot" (2024). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Chinese Mainland Film Panorama 2026, jointly presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and the Southern Film Culture Foundation, will be held from October 6 to November 15. Photo shows a film still of "Linka Linka" (2025). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Chinese Mainland Film Panorama 2026, jointly presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and the Southern Film Culture Foundation, will be held from October 6 to November 15. Photo shows a film still of "The Midsummer's Voice" (2024). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Chinese Mainland Film Panorama 2026, jointly presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and the Southern Film Culture Foundation, will be held from October 6 to November 15. Photo shows a film still of "Like Winds, Like Weeds" (2023). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Chinese Mainland Film Panorama 2026, jointly presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and the Southern Film Culture Foundation, will be held from October 6 to November 15. Photo shows a film still of the opening film, animation "Nobody" (2025). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

DH clarifies COVID-19 vaccination arrangements

In response to comments from a medical organisation about a lack of stock of COVID-19 vaccines and concerns about low COVID-19 vaccination rates, as well as related media enquiries, the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (November 11) issued the following clarification:

Scientific evidence shows that COVID-19 vaccines are effective in reducing the risk of severe disease and death. Following the recommendations of the World Health Organization, and the Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases and the Scientific Committee on Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases(Joint Scientific Committee) under the CHP, the CHP has continuously encouraged the public to receive the vaccine at appropriate times to minimise the risk of severe disease and death after being infected by COVID-19. Thanks to the government's and relevant sectors' continuous efforts to promote vaccination, the uptake rate of the initial doses of COVID-19 vaccine in Hong Kong exceeds 90 per cent, which is considered high internationally.

Regarding COVID-19 booster vaccination, the Joint Scientific Committee recommended them only for high-risk priority groups. Besides, one must receive a vaccine booster at least 180 days after their last dose or COVID-19 infection (whichever is later). Therefore, the vaccination rate is expected to be relatively low. Due to reinfection or vaccination, many people infected with COVID-19 experience milder symptoms and chose not to seek medical care. The Government faces limitations in collecting and reviewing the latest infection figures. As a result, the actual vaccination rates for high-risk priority groups cannot be accurately determined.

The CHP previously announced that the shelf life of the LP.8.1 vaccine for children and adults would expire in mid-July and early September of this year respectively, and that the production and shipment of COVID-19 vaccines containing new ingredients would take time. Starting October 29, the CHP has been providing the Spikevax XFG mRNA vaccine to childrenaged 6 months to 11 years. The first shipment of the new batch of Spikevax XFG vaccine for individuals aged 12 or above is expected to arrive in Hong Kong next month (December). By then, market supply will resume and private doctors will be able to order from pharmaceutical companies as usual. During this transitional period while awaiting vaccine production and delivery, the absence of COVID-19 vaccinations for adults is normal and temporary.

Regarding COVID-19 vaccination venues, the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines currently in use require complex cold-chain handling and have a limited shelf life after thawing. To provide convenience to the public, minimise vaccine wastage and ensure vaccine efficacy, the Government has set up a total of 75 COVID-19 vaccination venues across Hong Kong, including Specialist Out-patient Clinics (SOPCs) and Family Medicine Clinics (FMCs) in public hospitals, private clinics, Maternal and Child Health Centres, etc. Given that patients co-infected with seasonal influenza and COVID-19 are at a higher risk of severe complications and death, the CHP all along recommends that priority groups receive both seasonal influenza vaccination and COVID-19 vaccination booster to reduce the risk of serious illness and death.Eligible persons can receive both COVID-19 and influenza vaccinations at all current COVID-19 vaccination venues, including SOPCs and FMCs of the concerned public hospitals, as well as private clinics. Therefore, the CHP considers that there is currently no need to further expand the number of COVID-19 vaccination venues.

According to a survey conducted by the medical organisation concerned, nearly 40 per cent of the doctors surveyed do not proactively remind patients to receive COVID-19 vaccination. The CHP expressed concern about this and urged healthcare professionals to proactively remind patients of the importance of receiving COVID-19 vaccination in a timely manner. Even if their clinics do not provide vaccination services, healthcare professionals can still provide patients with information about the Government's COVID-19 Vaccination Programme to help safeguard public health.

The CHP will continue to strengthen publicity and education efforts through various online and offline channels to encourage priority groups to receive COVID-19 vaccination as soon as possible once the COVID-19 vaccines for persons aged 12 or above is available.

For more information about the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme, please visit the CHP's website.

Source: AI-found images