M+ Cinema Autumn Edition 2025 bridges cultural heritage and contemporary creativity through M+ Restored, trailblazing women artists, and diaspora filmmakers
M+ Cinema Autumn Edition 2025 bridges cultural heritage and contemporary creativity through M+ Restored, trailblazing women artists, and diaspora filmmakers
- The M+ Restored screening programme features the first three Hong Kong films restored through this special initiative, including The Arch (1968), The System (1979) and Love Massacre (1981), alongside a rich programme of post-screening talks on film restoration
- Rediscoveries—Chinese Diaspora in Hollywood pays tribute to pioneering Chinese diaspora filmmakers and actors who broke barriers in twentieth-century Hollywood, spotlighting works by Anna May Wong, Nancy Kwan, Bruce Lee, James Wong Howe, and Wayne Wang
- The new Stair in the Dark—Big Leap Forward programme revisits films defined by bold career decisions and artistic gambles, featuring Drive (2011), Good Time (2017), and Irma Vep (1996)
- In conjunction with the new Special Exhibition Dream Rooms: Environments by Women Artists 1950s–Now, M+ Cinema presents a curated selection of documentaries and moving image works spotlighting trailblazing women artists
- Avant-Garde Now: Here from Afar explores the concept of space and borders in an inspiring full-day programme of screenings, performances, curatorial presentations, and artist conversations
M+, Asia’s global museum of contemporary visual culture in the West Kowloon Cultural District (WestK) in Hong Kong, announces the M+ Cinema Autumn Edition, running from October to December 2025. Tickets for major programmes will be available for purchase starting Monday, 15 September 2025. M+ Patrons, Affiliates, and Members can enjoy priority ticket purchasing with a twenty per cent discount from Friday, 12 September to Sunday, 14 September 2025. M+ Cinema screening redemption vouchers can be used for select screenings. Please visit the M+ website for updates.
Autumn Edition Highlights
This season, M+ has transformed the Moving Image Centre into a welcoming social space, inviting visitors to immerse themselves in the museum’s rich cinematic offerings and relax in the newly redesigned lounge. The M+ Restored screening programme celebrates the first three films in the project, including The Arch (1968), The System (1979), and Love Massacre (1981), accompanied by a series of talks on film restoration and interactive workshops. This season of Rediscoveries honours Chinese diasporic pioneers in Hollywood who broke through deep-rooted stereotypes and forged new paths for future generations. Special Screening Every Bruce Was Kung Fu Fighting highlights the enduring influence of Bruce Lee on global cinema. In addition, Ju-On and Ju-On 2 (2000) return this Halloween in an exclusive double feature, presented in newly restored 4K. Meanwhile, Dream Rooms: Women Artists on Film pays tributes to the experimental spirit of women artists, presented in dialogue with the new Special Exhibition Dream Rooms: Environments by Women Artists 1950s–Now.
Details of the M+ Cinema Autumn Edition:
M+ Restored is a film restoration initiative supported by CHANEL that aims to preserve Hong Kong’s rich cinematic heritage by restoring nine feature films. The Autumn Edition features the first three restored titles: The Arch (1968) by T’ang Shushuen, The System (1979) by Peter Yung, and Love Massacre (1981) by Patrick Tam. These landmark works embody the pioneering spirit of the Hong Kong New Wave, a groundbreaking movement that emerged in 1979 and redefined cinematic language and aesthetics in Hong Kong. The programme is accompanied by a series of reference screenings that offer deeper insight into the featured works, such as Charulata (1964) by Satyajit Ray, Outside the Window (1975) by Song Tsun-Shou and Yok Teng-Heung, Seven Women: Liu Wing Seong (1976) by Patrick Tam; and three documentaries produced by Peter Yung including One Day in Locke (1971), The Rickshaw Boy (1981) and Opium: The White Powder Opera (1976–1977).
In addition, Behind the Restoration Talks offers audiences a rare opportunity to explore the intricate processes of film preservation and digital restoration. Restoration experts, former film festival directors, and a cinematographer will join M+ curators to share the creative minds behind the M+ Restored films. They will reflect on the legacy of the Hong Kong New Wave and the technical artistry involved in bringing historic films back to life. In the interactive workshop What is Film, Anyway?, participants are invited to discover different analogue film formats used in cinema, including professional 35 mm and amateur 8 mm film, followed by a screening of a 16 mm film.
This programme honours the contributions of Chinese diasporas and the cultural pathways they forged for future generations. Long before Asian American filmmakers found mainstream success in Hollywood, filmmakers of Chinese descent struggled to overcome prejudice in the American film industry. This series starts with Daughter of Shanghai (1937), in which the lead actress, Anna May Wong, challenged stereotypes in the studio system during the 1920s and 1930s. By the 1960s, Nancy Kwan starred in a groundbreaking all-Asian cast musical Flower Drum Song (1961), while Bruce Lee’s brief partnership with Golden Harvest produced Enter the Dragon (1973), launching him to global fame. In the 1980s, John Lone took on roles in films such as Year of the Dragon (1985), showcasing his talent in Hollywood. Behind the scenes, talents such as cinematographer James Wong Howe and artist Tyrus Wong shaped cinematic history. Meanwhile, Esther Eng’s films, now considered lost, are remembered through a documentary Golden Gate Girls (2013), which celebrates her legacy as the first female Chinese director in the United States. Later, Wayne Wang, the Hong Kong-born director of Chan is Missing (1982), also succeeded in the American independent film scene before establishing a career in Hollywood.
Bruce Lee passed away just days before Enter the Dragon (1973) was released, cutting short a career on the brink of global stardom. The overwhelming demand for more of his works sparked a wave of imitators, giving rise to the Bruceploitation genre—low-budget films known for their outrageous action and sensational appeal. With a single ticket, the audience of Every Bruce was Kung Fu Fighting can enjoy two grindhouse classics and one documentary: The Dragon Lives Again (1977) by Law Kei, The Clones of Bruce Lee (1980) by Joseph Kong Hung and Nam Ki-nam, and Enter the Clones of Bruce (2023) by David Gregory. The Bruce Lee programmes are organised with special thanks to the Hong Kong Dance Company.
Sadako may be the face of Japanese horror, but Kayako’s eerie death rattle defines its soundscape. Shot in just nine days, the original direct-to-video Ju-On films sparked a franchise that expanded into Hollywood remakes, video games, and crossovers. Twenty-five years later, Ju-On and Ju-On 2 (2000) return in newly restored 4K versions for an exclusive double feature, bringing this revamped horror classic to Hong Kong just in time for Halloween.
This edition of Fresh Eyes continues to spotlight Chinese diaspora filmmakers through two beloved animated films: Bambi (1942) and Shrek (2001). Bambi features concept art by the late Chinese American artist Tyrus Wong, while Hong Kong-born animator Raman Hui was the supervising animator of Shrek. Both films are presented in relaxed screenings for young audiences to enjoy comfortably, with concession tickets priced at just HKD 25.
- Dream Rooms: Women Artists on Film
Conceived in dialogue with the Special Exhibition Dream Rooms: Environments by Women Artists 1950s–Now, Dream Rooms: Women Artists on Film includes both documentaries and feature films. Dream Rooms: Documentaries on Women Artists is a series of free, drop-in screenings in M+ Cinema House 3, spotlighting the art and lives of three artists featured in the exhibition: Judy Chicago, Lygia Clark, and Marta Minujín. Ticketed screenings at House 1 feature the dreamy films of multidisciplinary artist Niki de Saint Phalle (1930–2002), recently restored in 4K. These include Daddy (1973) and A Dream Longer than the Night (Un rêve plus long que la nuit) (1976), Niki De Saint Phalle’s fantastical narratives about familial bonds and personal trauma.
- Art at the Stair
Art at the Stair is a new exhibition series of moving image artworks in the Grand Stair. A continuation of Dream Rooms: Women Artists on Film, the inaugural programme features Thread Routes—Chapters I-VI (2010–2019) by Korean artist Kimsooja. These six non-narrative documentary films explore the philosophical and anthropological underpinnings of different textile cultures, complementing Kimsooja’s work in the exhibition.
- Previews: Escape (2025) by Masao Adachi
Previews presents new films that have never been shown in Hong Kong before. Escape (2025) by writer-director Masao Adachi is a fictionalised portrait of Satoshi Kirishima, formerly Japan’s most wanted fugitive, who was linked to a series of bombings in the 1970s. Drawing from personal experience as a former Japanese Red Army member, Adachi crafts an empathetic exploration of conviction, doubt, and identity in a life on the run.
- Stair in the Dark—Big Leap Forward
At pivotal moments in their careers, filmmakers and actors often take bold creative risks. Some of these choices lead to breakthroughs and acclaim, while others challenge audience expectations. This edition spotlights films defined by such decisions, including Drive (2011) by Nicolas Winding Refn, Good Time (2017) by the Safdie Brothers, and Irma Vep (1996) by Olivier Assayas.
Avant-Garde Now is a regular series of one-day events that delves into cutting-edge moving image practices. This edition launches a year-long exploration of space as a subject and form of artistic expression. On Saturday, 6 December 2025, Here from Afar brings together artists Eric Baudelaire, Lap-See Lam, Noh Suntag, and Trương Minh Quý to present screen-based works that explore borders, migration, and the idea of home. Curatorial presentations and discussions between the artists and audience will lay the foundation for future events, including the upcoming Asian Avant-Garde Film Festival in May 2026.
M+ Restored, Rediscoveries, and Avant-Garde Now are supported by CHANEL, M+’s Major Partner. For more ticketing and programme information, please visit the M+ website.
M+ Membership
M+ annual membership and patron membership offer an exclusive experience of contemporary visual culture for visitors of all ages and backgrounds. Members across all tiers enjoy priority ticket purchases with a twenty per cent discount on selected cinema screenings, two free cinema redemption vouchers per membership year (four for M+ Patrons), and free exclusive screenings. M+ Members can enjoy unlimited admission to all M+ exhibitions throughout the year. Meanwhile, M+ Patrons can enjoy unlimited free admission to all exhibitions with up to three guests per visit. Other membership benefits include invitations to selected exhibition previews, exclusive M+ Lounge access with guests and M+ Private Viewings, priority ticket purchase, and much more. For more information, please visit the M+ website.
About M+
M+ is Asia’s global museum of contemporary visual culture. Located in Hong Kong’s West Kowloon Cultural District (WestK), it is dedicated to collecting, exhibiting, and interpreting visual art, design and architecture, moving image, and Hong Kong visual culture of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. The landmark M+ building on Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbourfront was designed by the world-renowned architectural firm Herzog & de Meuron in partnership with TFP Farrells and Arup. It spans a total floor area of 65,000 square metres, featuring thirty-three galleries alongside a Learning Hub, Moving Image Centre, Research Centre, and Roof Garden, among other event and programming spaces. The M+ Facade is one of the largest LED screens in the world, showcasing commissioned artworks on the Hong Kong skyline every evening. The museum stewards a multidisciplinary permanent collection that includes objects from regions across Asia and beyond. A highlight is the M+ Sigg Collection, one of the world’s most comprehensive collections of Chinese contemporary art. Today, M+ is a nexus for researching and presenting contemporary visual culture, inspiring thought and curiosity.
About the West Kowloon Cultural District (WestK)
WestK is one of the largest and most ambitious cultural hubs in the world and Hong Kong’s new cultural tourism landmark, spanning forty hectares alongside Victoria Harbour. WestK comprises a mix of landmark arts and cultural facilities, including world-class museums M+ and the Hong Kong Palace Museum, intricately designed performing arts venues the Xiqu Centre and Freespace, the eleven-hectare Art Park with a waterfront promenade, and the upcoming WestK Performing Arts Centre.
Hosting over 1,000 exhibitions, performances, programmes, and events each year, WestK provides a vital platform for both emerging and established artists. WestK welcomes more than ten million visitors each year, evolving as the international cultural brand of Hong Kong and strengthening the city’s strategic role as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange.