M+, the museum of contemporary visual culture in Hong Kong, is set to host the inaugural M+ Restored Festival this autumn, marking the culmination of a three-year initiative to restore and showcase Hong Kong New Wave films. Supported by CHANEL, the festival will feature nine restored films, spanning from the late 1960s to the early 2000s, screened at M+ Cinema in November and December 2026.
The festival follows the films' premieres at prestigious international film festivals and screenings in 44 cities worldwide, including Cannes, Venice, and New York. This event not only celebrates the preservation of Hong Kong's cinematic legacy but also marks a homecoming for these films, which have reintroduced Hong Kong cinema to global audiences.
The M+ Restored Festival will pair these classics with contemporary films from Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland, highlighting enduring themes across generations. Notable pairings include Ann Hui’s "The Story of Woo Viet" with Chan Kin-long’s "Hand Rolled Cigarette," and Yim Ho’s "Homecoming" with Bai Xue’s "The Crossing."
In addition to screenings, the festival will feature post-screening conversations with filmmakers and workshops on film restoration. Suhanya Raffel, Museum Director at M+, expressed pride in the festival's role in preserving Hong Kong's moving image heritage, whilst Silke Schmickl, CHANEL Lead Curator, highlighted the festival's ability to connect past and present cinematic works.
Looking ahead, a new cycle of restorations will launch in 2027, focusing on six visionary Asian films, further cementing M+'s commitment to sharing Asia's film heritage
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