Hong Kong Film Awards 2026: Why 4 Films Were Excluded

The four films missing from the provisional list feature actors or themes unpopular with authorities in Hong Kong and mainland China Reading Time:4 minutes Why you can trust SCMP Published: 5:14pm, 19 Jan 2026 On January 13, the Hong Kong Film Awards (HKFA) Association released its provisional list of contenders for the 44th edition of the city’s most prestigious film ceremony. The film list is meant to be a routine administrative update, a roll-call of the artistic output from the 2025 calendar year, and the definitive source of reference for HKFA voters filling out their nomination forms. However, this year’s list quickly threw the industry into turmoil. In an unprecedented development, four prominent local productions were conspicuously missing: Valley of the Shadow of Death, Vital Signs, Finch & Midland and Mother Bhumi. Advertisement According to the HKFA’s by-laws, any Hong Kong film released commercially between January 1 and December 31, 2025, with at least five screenings over seven consecutive days, automatically qualifies. Submission is not required. Industry observers maintain that all four films meet these requirements. Their eventual omission is especially jarring because the HKFA confirmed in 2023 that there is no mechanism for even a film’s owners to withdraw it from contention – as illustrated in the case of the scandal-hit documentary To My Nineteen-year-old Self. Advertisement When pressed for an explanation by local reporters, the association offered a terse reply: “No comment.” Advertisement Select Voice Choose your listening speed Get through articles 2x faster 1.25 x 250 WPM Slow Average Fast 00:0000:00 1.25 x