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,...