The Young Cinema Competition is set up to encourage young filmmakers to explore the potentials of the cinema of our times.

The Hong Kong International Film Festival considers documentaries addressing social issues with aesthetical significance as an essential component of any meaningful film festival. The Documentary Competition is a salute to filmmakers around the world for their devotion to the documentary form and its languages.

Presented by the International Federation of Film Critics since the 23rd edition of the HKIFF, The FIPRESCI Prize promotes film-art and encourages new and young cinema. FIPRESCI is an association of the national organisations of professional film critics and film journalists from around the world for the promotion and development of film culture. The FIPRESCI Prize recognises enterprising filmmaking and twelve first films by Asian directors are selected by HKIFF, and the FIPRESCI jury comprised of three renowned personalities selects the winner of the FIPRESCI Prize. The films eligible for the Prize are identified by the FIPRESCI logo.

The SIGNIS Award is presented annually by SIGNIS to recognise the excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers. Co-organised with SIGNIS Hong Kong, it is a salute to films that fully express social and humanitarian concerns, as well as spiritual and artistic values. HKIFF selects twelve nominees and the SIGNIS jury comprised of three renowned personalities selects the winner of the SIGNIS Award. The Awards are identified by the SIGNIS logo.

TThe Hong Kong International Film Festival Short Film Competition supports the production and re-invention of the short film, a form with its own formal, aesthetic and expressive qualities distinct from those of the feature. It is also a platform for international and local short film directors to exchange visions and ideas.