Hong Kong International Film Festival Society (HKIFFS) has announced the 12 titles selected for the work-in-progress section of this year’s Hong Kong-Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF), including new projects from Indonesia’s Yosep Anggi Noen, the Philippines’ Arvin Belarmino and Hong Kong filmmaker Norris Wong.
Reza Rahadian and Dian Sastrowardoyo star in Yosep Anggi Noen’s The Sea Speaks His Name (Laut Bercerita), a political drama about a student activist whose disappearance in the turbulent 1990s leaves behind a family torn between hope, memory and an unending search for truth. The project is produced by Gita Fara, whose credits include 24 Hours With Gaspar and Busan film festival award winner On Your Lap.
Indonesian projects in the line-up also include Ariani Darmawan’s Jani Be Good, produced by Meiske Taurisia (Sleep No More), and Eddie Cahyono’s My Mother, starring Christine Hakim and produced by Tika Bravani and Isabelle Glachant.
Ria, the feature debut of Arvin Belarmino who directed award-winning short Agapito, portrays the struggles of a hotel housekeeper as she leads her punk community in standing against violence and displacement while caring for her ailing foster mother.
Nick Cheung Ka-fai and Chung Suet-ying star in Wong’s comedy drama Good Trip, about a film production assistant who takes her ailing father on an unplanned journey to fulfil his last wishes. The project is produced by Mabel Cheung and Wong Hoi.
The projects, mostly in post-production and all with budgets of up to $2.2M, include seven debut features. They will be presented at HAF from March 17-19 as part of the HKIFF Industry Project Market, alongside Filmart.
HAF 2026 Work-in-Progress Line-up:
Farewell My Blue Bird (China)
Director: Zhang Tao
Producer: Tong Siyu
Production Company: Nanjing Sanmulin Film & Culture Media Co
A Ghost In The Market (Taiwan)
Director: Chin Chia-Hua
Producer: Eva Wang
Production Company: Geppetto Film Studio
Good Trip (Hong Kong)
Directors: Norris Wong Yee-lam, Wong Hoi
Producer: Mabel Cheung Yuen-ting
Production Company: Tango For Four Production Limited
Jani Be Good (Indonesia)*
Director: Ariani Darmawan
Producer: Meiske Taurisia
Production Company: Palari Films
Like A Feather In The Wind (India)*
Director: Chahat Mansingka
Producers: Sanjay Mansingka, Chahat Mansingka
Production Company: Rama Talkies
My Mother (Indonesia, Japan, Hong Kong)
Director: Eddie Cahyono
Producers: Tika Bravani, Isabelle Glachant
Production Companies: ANP Talenta Media, Knockonwood Inc., Chinese Shadows
Ria (Philippines, Norway, Netherlands, Saudi)*
Director: Arvin Belarmino
Producers: Kristine De Leon, Alemberg Ang
Production Companies: WAF Studios, Daluyong Studios
The Sea Speaks His Name (Laut Bercerita), Indonesia
Director: Yosep Anggi Noen
Producers: Gita Fara, Budi Setyarso, Leila S. Chudori
Production Companies: Pal8 Pictures
Selvi (India)*
Director: Sailesh Rathnakumar
Producer: Anjali Pati
Production Company: Anahat Films
A Thousand Stars In The Galactic Night (China)*
Director: Shu Hui
Producers: Wang Hongwei, Lyu Hang
Production Company: Chengdu Qianxing Film and Culture Limited Co.
A Vampire, Probably (Taiwan)*
Director: Ken Yang
Producer: Lin Ming-Chih
Production Company: Ying Hong Pictures Co., Ltd.
Will You Still Be My Friend (Taiwan, Singapore)*
Director: Lu Po-Shun
Producer: Su Yu-Hao
Production Companies: InLight Film Studio, Verdant Peak Films
