CAMELLIA CONFERREDAnn Hui, one of Hong Kong cinema’s defining figures, will receive the 2026 Camellia Award at the opening ceremony of the 31st Busan International Film Festival on Oct. 6 at Busan Cinema Center. A key figure in the Hong Kong New Wave, Hui has won the best director prize at the Hong Kong Film Awards six times and at the Golden Horse Awards three times. She achieved a clean sweep of best film, director, actor and actress at the Hong Kong Film Awards with both “Summer Snow” in 1995 and “A Simple Life” in 2011. Her international recognition includes the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2012 Asian Film Awards, the Asian Filmmaker of the Year Award at BIFF 2014, and the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the 2020 Venice International Film Festival. KATHMANDU KICKOFFLicchavi Cinema Festival will hold its inaugural edition in Kathmandu from Sept. 11–15,, presenting a curated program of 10 feature films drawn from Nepal, Bhutan, India, Pakistan, Thailand, France, Germany, Japan and Russia.