Hong Kong Films Spotlighted at 2026 Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival in Spain

Brussels ETO continues support for Hong Kong films at renowned Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia

Together with the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency under the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government, the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels (Brussels ETO) is continuing the established partnership with the Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia and is supporting the screening of Hong Kong films at the 2026 edition being held from October 8 to 18 (Sitges time) in Sitges, Spain.

This year, the Festival features five Hong Kong films, namely "The Black Magic with Buddha", "Cold War 1994", "Love Massacre", "Master of the Flying Guillotine" and "The Mage".

Brussels ETO hosted a reception on October 12, bringing together some 100 guests from the European film, cultural, media and business sectors. The event was graced by the presence of the producer and cast member of the film "The Mage", including renowned Hong Kong artist and lead actress of the film Josie Ho, as well as Michael Werner, a veteran of the Hong Kong film industry and an accomplished film producer.

Delivering a welcoming speech at the reception, Deputy Representative of Brussels ETO Mr Kasper Ng, thanked the organiser for once again having Hong Kong cinema be part of the Festival, and highlighted the HKSAR Government's commitment to supporting the development of the local film industry as well as the promotion of Hong Kong cinema to global audiences.

"We are dedicated to helping Hong Kong filmmakers reach audiences around the world. By showcasing both classics and new productions at prestigious European film festivals, such as here in Sitges, we celebrate Hong Kong's unique charm as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchanges, while unlocking new commercial opportunities for our creative industries," he said.

The development of Hong Kong's film industry is also supported under the First Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (2026-2030) and the Chief Executive's 2026 Policy Address, which were recently published. Measures include attracting more private investment and facilitating Mainland and overseas film crews filming in Hong Kong.

Founded in 1968, the Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia is the world's leading fantasy film festival. It screens films across the fantastic genre, including action and adventure movies and black comedies, with a special emphasis on thrillers. The last edition attracted an audience of more than 130 000 from around the world.

Brussels ETO continues support for Hong Kong films at renowned Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Brussels ETO continues support for Hong Kong films at renowned Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Toll rate for Central Kowloon Bypass to take effect from December 6

The Government announced today (October 14) that the Central Kowloon Bypass will be fully commissioned on December 6, 2026 (Sunday), and an $8 toll will take effect from the same date. The Legislative Council (LegCo) approved in 2025 the $8 toll arrangement for all vehicles using the Central Kowloon Bypass. In this connection, the Secretary for Transport and Logistics has made the Road Tunnels (Government) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulation 2025 (Commencement) Notice (the Commencement Notice) to specify that the relevant toll provisions will come into operation from December 6, 2026. The Commencement Notice will be published in the Gazette on October 16 and tabled at the LegCo for negative vetting on October 21.

The Central Kowloon Bypass comprises the already commissioned Central Kowloon Bypass (Yau Ma Tei Section Tunnel), and the Central Kowloon Bypass (Kowloon Bay Section Tunnel) which is scheduled for commissioning on December 6, 2026. Together with the Tseung Kwan O - Lam Tin Tunnel, it forms Route 6, linking Tseung Kwan O, Kowloon East and Kowloon West. Upon the commissioning of Route 6, the journey time between Tseung Kwan O and Yau Ma Tei during peak hours is expected to be substantially reduced from about 65 minutes to about 12 minutes, bringing considerable convenience to the public.

A spokesperson for the Transport and Logistics Bureau said, "Having duly considered public affordability, the toll for the Central Kowloon Bypass has been set at $8. It is expected to recover part of the operating costs while achieving the intended traffic diversion effect, thereby alleviating traffic on major roads in Kowloon. The Government has been actively launching publicity campaigns to help the public to fully grasp the toll arrangement, with a view to ensuring the smooth implementation of the new toll arrangement."

Source: AI-found images