The sixth Hong Kong Film Gala Presentation runs from 6 to 8 November 2026.
Screenings take place at Alserkal Avenue and 25hours Hotel Dubai One Central.
The six-film lineup includes Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In, Police Story and The Dating Menu.
The sixth edition brings six Hong Kong films and open-air screenings to Dubai.
Lights, camera, films. Cinema Akil, the independent cinema, has announced the return of its Hong Kong Film Gala, running from 6 to 8 November 2026. The three-day programme features six films, moving between action, dark comedy, psychological drama, animation and romance.
Screenings will take place at Cinema Akil’s Alserkal Avenue home and its outdoor outpost at 25hours Hotel Dubai One Central. The programme also includes a screening beneath the stars at The Yard in Alserkal Avenue.
Opening the gala on 6 November 2026 at Cinema Akil 25hours is Soi Cheang’s Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In (2024). Set in the 1980s, the action film follows a young man who finds refuge and friendship in Kowloon Walled City before joining the fight to defend it. The screening begins at 7.45pm and will be followed by a Q&A.
On 7 November 2026, Dog Day Evening screens at Cinema Akil, Alserkal Avenue at 4pm. Mak Tin Shu’s directorial debut turns the frustration of cancelling a television subscription into a hostage situation, using black comedy to explore everyday urban irritations. Actor Yukki Tai will attend a post-screening Q&A.
At 7pm, Jackie Chan’s Police Story (1985) takes over The Yard for an outdoor screening. The action classic follows an officer tasked with protecting a key witness against a drug lord, with the physical stunts and choreography that helped define Hong Kong cinema.
The evening continues at 9pm inside Cinema Akil with Dead End. Directed by Isabella Lam Lok-hin, the psychological thriller follows a programmer whose life is disrupted by a teenager claiming to be his half-brother, reopening questions about their father’s death.
Animation takes the spotlight on 8 November 2026 at 4pm with Tommy Ng Kai Chung’s Another World. Set between life and reincarnation, the film follows a spirit guiding souls who encounters a young girl struggling with anger and grief.
Closing the gala at 7pm is The Dating Menu, directed by Amos Why and Frankie Chung. The romance follows a private chef on four first dates, with omakase-style meals offering a way into memories, relationships and contemporary life in Hong Kong.
Butheina Kazim, Founder of Cinema Akil, said: “Six years in, and this partnership still surprises us, as does Hong Kong cinema itself. This edition of the Hong Kong Film Gala Presentation takes the films out of the theatre and into the open air, with Police Story beneath the Dubai sky. At the same time, the rest of the line-up reminds us how restless and inventive Hong Kong filmmakers remain. We are grateful to carry this tradition forward, year after year, bringing Dubai and Hong Kong closer, and continuing to inspire film lovers across the region.”
Tickets are priced at AED 67.20 per person and are available online.
Where: Cinema Akil, Alserkal Avenue, Al Qouz, Dubai
When: 6 to 8 November 2026
Contact: www.cinemaakil.com