Japanese film director Yoji Yamada is seen in a recent photo. Yoji Yamada's "Kabei - Our Mother," and Taiwan director Chang Tso-Chi's "Soul of a Demon" will together open the 32nd Hong Kong International Film Festival on March 17, according to the festival Web site. [Photo: ent.sina.com.cn]

The annual Hong Kong International Film Festival has announced the opening and closing films for this year's event. They include the new Golden Bear contender, Yoji Yamada's "Kabei - Our Mother."

"Kabei," a story of a Japanese family set in the 1940s, and Taiwan director Chang Tso-Chi's "Soul of a Demon" will together open the 32nd Hong Kong International Film Festival on March 17, according to the festival Web site.

The festival will wrap up on April 6 with a screening of Martin Scorsese's "Shine a Light," a documentary about the legendary rock band The Rolling Stones, and "Coffee or Tea," a movie about a love triangle co-directed by Hong Kong directors Shu Kei and Kwan Man-Hin.

An Asian Film Awards gala is scheduled for the festival's opening day, where "Kabei" director Yoji Yamada will be honored with a lifetime achievement award.

The HKIFF is one of Asia's most important film events.