Best films to catch at the Hong Kong International Film Festival

Lauded as one of the best cinematic films made in history – and undeniably one of the most influential – Stanley Kubrick's masterpiece 2001: A Space Odyssey is heading back to the big screen so you can watch it the way it should be viewed. Fans can once again experience how Kubrick helped revolutionise film. 4pm, Mar 23, Premiere Elements; 7.30pm, Mar 25 and 8.30pm, Mar 30, Hong Kong Cultural Centre. 

Find life in the city to be repetitive and tedious? This charming Japanese film might just chase away the blues. Blue Hour follows the mnemonic work and love life of protagonist Sunada (Kaho) as she journeys to the countryside accompanied by a free-spirited best friend. Allow director Hakota Yuko to carry you away from daily monotony. 5pm, Mar 28 & 7.15pm, Mar 30, The Metroplex.

Acclaimed South Korean director Lee Chang-dong has garnered praise for his adaption of Haruki Murakami's short story Barn Burning, particularly for his ability to capture the magical realism of the original text. The psychological drama follows a love triangle through ambiguous narratives and gets all the more complicated when the female protagonist vanishes without a trace. Lee and co-writer Oh Jung-mi will be present after the screening to answer any (ahem) burning questions. 7.30pm, Mar 20, HKCEC. 

Expect plenty of mystery and suspense in this Hong Kong production. G Affairs begins with the discovery of a human head, which unravels into a series of events, one more horrifying than the next. Follow the story to find out who the killer is, and discover what the G actually stands for – grand, grating, gory, gruesome, gobbledygook – the possibilities are endless. 5pm, Mar 24, Hong Kong Arts Centre Louis Koo Cinema.

Providing a unique view of the landscape of modern China, Give Me A Ride tells the tale of an encounter between a female passenger and a taxi driver. Their intimate time together leads the driver on a journey of self-evaluation and in seeing that there’s light at the end of the tunnel. 5.15pm, Mar 27 & 7.15pm, Mar 29, Premiere Elements.

To follow up his Academy Award-winning film, Moonlight, director Barry Jenkins brings audiences If Beale Street Could Talk, a love story between two young African-Americans troubled by false charges and racial tensions. Follow as Tish (KiKi Layne) and Fonny (Stephan James), as well as Regina King in her Oscar-winning role as Tish’s mother, fight for love and justice in this beautifully shot and executed film. 9pm, Mar 24, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University; 4.45pm, Mar 31, The Metroplex

After viewing this film you might be extra careful the next time you go shopping. Peter Strickland's In Fabric weaves a tale around a mysterious red dress, which was put on sale in an equally eerie department store. The dress comes at a great cost, as viewers will soon discover. 11.55pm, Mar 29 & 7pm, Mar 31; Premiere Elements.

If you're craving a good laugh, My Masterpiece is the perfect antidote to a work week. This satirical film shows how there’s no age limit to having fun. Join quirky painter Renzo (Luis Brandoni) and a wily gallery owner Arturo (Guillermo Francella), who are life-long mates, mock the world and each other. A delightful film on how to feel renewed and love life again. 10.15pm, Mar 20, Premiere Elements; 7.45pm, Mar 30, The Sky. 

Starring Anthony Wong Chau-sang, Still Human tells a heartwarming tale of a disabled man being cared for by a Filipino domestic worker. If this synopsis reminds you of The Intouchables or Me Before You, you’re not wrong. The story follows the two characters as they confront their lives with dreams unfulfilled while learning to lean on one another. 5pm, Mar 28 and 7.15pm, Mar 30, The Metroplex.