Timor-Leste Participates for the First Time in the ASEAN Film Festival in Hong Kong
DÍLI, 30 August 2026 (TATOLI) – Timor-Leste is participating, for the first time, in the ASEAN Film Festival in Hong Kong through the screening of three short films dedicated to the country’s intangible cultural heritage. The Vice Prime Minister, Coordinating Minister of Economic Affairs, and Minister of Tourism and Environment, Francisco Kalbuadi Lay, attended a ceremony held as part of the Festival on August 28th, 2026, where he highlighted the opportunity to promote Timorese culture, identity, and creativity to an international audience.
The fourth edition of the ASEAN Film Festival takes place from August 20th to September 27th, 2026, featuring over 30 films from the 11 ASEAN Member States, as well as productions from other countries and territories. This year’s edition marks Timor-Leste’s first participation in the Festival.
In his address, the Vice Prime Minister thanked the Hong Kong-ASEAN Foundation and the Festival organisers for the invitation extended to Timor-Leste and for the opportunity to share the nation’s culture with the ASEAN community and the international public.
“For Timor-Leste, this is a very special moment. I am proud to be here alongside highly talented Timorese individuals, who demonstrate that, despite being a small nation, we possess creativity, talent, and stories to share with the world,” stated Francisco Kalbuadi Lay.
Timor-Leste’s participation includes the presentation of the collection “Intangible Cultural Heritage: Short Films from Timor-Leste”, comprising three short films produced in 2024: “The Rise of Genre Tebe-Tebe”, by Domingos Flaviano Belo Correia Freitas; “Babadok Instrument Production”, by Silvano Rodrigues Xavier; and “Traditional Knowledge of Uma Lulik and Its Cultural Sites”, by Grazela Maria Albino.
The three productions showcase different dimensions of Timor-Leste’s intangible cultural heritage, through Tebe-Tebe, the handcrafted production of the Babadok musical instrument, and the cultural knowledge and practices associated with Uma Lulik (traditional Timorese sacred houses). The short films were produced with the support of UNESCO and the International Information and Networking Centre for Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Asia-Pacific Region (ICHCAP).
In his address, Francisco Kalbuadi Lay highlighted the role of cinema and culture in promoting Timor-Leste’s identity and reality by conveying the country’s stories, memories, traditions, and values.
“Preserving our culture is essential because it reminds us of what we have been through and the legacy our ancestors left for our identity and for future generations,” he stated.
The Vice Prime Minister also thanked Timorese artists, filmmakers, cultural actors, and young people for their contribution to promoting the arts and culture of Timor-Leste, stating that “together, we have written another chapter in our country’s history”.
Organised by the Hong Kong-ASEAN Foundation, the ASEAN Film Festival is a non-profit initiative designed to promote understanding and appreciation of different cultures through film. The 2026 edition features free screenings across various venues in Hong Kong, as well as meetings with directors and other film industry professionals.
Timor-Leste’s participation in this edition of the Festival expands the presence of Timorese culture and audiovisual production in the regional arena, within the context of the country’s participation as an ASEAN Member State.
TATOLI
