Due to the ongoing COVID-19 problem, the Hong Kong International Film Festival, which was set to begin at the end of March, has been postponed. The Cine Fan community outreach program's remaining screenings have also been canceled.
Following the Hong Kong government's announcement earlier this week that social separation restrictions would be extended until April 20, 2022, this decision was made. Since January 7, cinemas around the area have been closed due to a government order.
The date for the 46th edition of HKIFF, which will take place from March 31 to April 11, had been planned for March 31 to April 11. The festival and Cine Fan screenings will be moved to a later date this year, according to the organizers.The HKIFF has been canceled for the second time in three years because of the pandemic has forced to the festival to cancel its scheduled March event. In 2021, when Hong Kong had very low levels of local coronavirus transmission, the festival was able to go ahead as a hybrid with 190 films presented at online and in-person screenings, albeit with few foreign visitors.
However, since the beginning of this year, the omicron version of the illness has been able to overcome these barriers, causing by far the most severe disease conditions in the region, endangering the lives of many elderly individuals who have been unwilling to be vaccinated.
The municipal administration ramped up its anti-virus efforts on Tuesday, requiring three required PCR testing for all residents starting in March, as well as the extension of social distancing measures, school closures, and the confirmation of its planned vaccination pass system.
