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The Cannes Film Festival‘s “Goes to Cannes” program will once again spotlight five promising Asian projects from the Hong Kong Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF) at this year’s Marche du Film, marking another strong year for the continent’s emerging filmmakers.
The 2025 selection showcases a diverse range of storytelling from across Asia, with each project expected to complete production this year. Drama emerges as the dominant genre, with deep explorations of personal relationships, societal pressures, and intimate character studies.
China leads the way with two entries, including Gong Yiwen’s “Her First Taste,” a coming-of-age narrative about a teenage girl who forms a subtle connection with a boy, exploring unspoken questions of young love. Produced by Qian Yini for Yiwen Films and Sparks Production, the film is in the Putonghua and Shengzhou dialects.
The second Chinese entry, co-produced with Hong Kong, is Liu Xing’s “Say My Name,” a drama-romance about 20-year-old Liang Nian’er, who disguises her true self while pursuing “borrowed affection and hatred.” Producers Lyu Yue, Mo Jinjin, and Duan Tingting from Star Lab Production present the film in both Cantonese and Putonghua.
Indonesian cinema makes its mark with actor-turned-director Reza Rahadian’s “On Your Lap” (Pangku). The drama follows a pregnant female hustler fighting for a better life while facing betrayal and difficult sacrifices. Producers Arya Ibrahim and Gita Fara from Gambar Gerak are bringing this Indonesian-language project to Cannes.
India’s contribution comes from director Tribeny Rai with “Shape of Momo,” an exploration of multi-generational women navigating patriarchal norms. Producers Kislay and Geeta Rai from Kathkala Films LLP and Dalley Khorsani Productions are behind this Nepali-language drama.
Rounding out the selection is Japan’s “White Flowers and Fruits” from director Sakamoto Yukari. This psychological drama examines the aftermath of a boarding school suicide, with two students uncovering hidden truths through a supernatural possession element. Yamamoto Teruhisa (“Drive My Car”) of Chiaroscuro Co., Ltd. produces.
The “Goes to Cannes” program has become an increasingly significant platform for showcasing works-in-progress and connecting filmmakers with potential distributors, sales agents, and festival programmers. The HAF selections represent some of the most promising projects from one of Asia’s premier film financing forums.
