CHANEL Celebrates the Launch of the M+ Restored Festival 2026 with Chow Yun-fat, Ann Hui and Sylvia Chang
The inaugural M+ Restored Festival, supported by CHANEL, was launched with a cocktail reception held during the M+ Gala 2026, for which CHANEL serves as a Lead Sponsor. Bringing together leading figures from Hong Kong's film, arts and cultural communities, the occasion marked a significant milestone in the three-year M+ Restored initiative. The Festival presents nine newly restored Hong Kong film classics, reflecting the shared commitment of CHANEL and M+ to preserving and passing on the city's cinematic heritage to future generations.
Launch of the M+ Restored Festival supported by CHANEL at the M+ Gala 2026. Image courtesy of Chanel Hong Kong Limited.
The evening brought together prominent figures from Hong Kong's film, arts and cultural communities, including actor Chow Yun-fat and his wife, Jasmine Tan; acclaimed filmmakers Ann Hui and Sylvia Chang; artist Oscar Wang; and model Tianyi You, alongside cultural leaders and partners from Hong Kong and abroad.
Ann Hui, film director (left); Chow Yun-fat (centre); Sylvia Chang (right). Image courtesy of Chanel Hong Kong Limited.
A highlight of the evening was the reunion of Chow Yun-fat and Ann Hui, whose landmark collaboration, The Story of Woo Viet (1981), opened the Festival with the Hong Kong premiere of its 4K restoration. More than four decades after its original release, the actor and director came together once again to celebrate this defining work of the Hong Kong New Wave and its enduring influence. Sylvia Chang attended with her son, Oscar Wang, and daughter-in-law, Tianyi You, in recognition of her pioneering contribution to Hong Kong and Asian cinema.
Oscar Wang (left), Sylvia Chang (centre), and Tianyi You (right). Image courtesy of Chanel Hong Kong Sylvia Chang. Image courtesy of Chanel Hong Kong Limited.
Oscar Wang (left), Sylvia Chang (centre), and Tianyi You (right). Image courtesy of Chanel Hong Kong Limited.
Sylvia Chang. Image courtesy of Chanel Hong Kong Limited.
Guests were invited to discover exclusive behind-the-scenes materials and insights into the restoration process, paying tribute to the filmmakers, artists and collaborators who have helped safeguard Hong Kong's cinematic heritage.
The occasion also reflected Hong Kong's role as a centre for international cultural exchange, welcoming figures from major cultural institutions and art community, including Gong Yan, Museum Director of Power Station of Art, Shanghai; artist Cao Fei; Silke Schmickl, CHANEL Senior Curator, Head of Moving Image at M+; and Gaële de Medeiros, Director of Business and International Development at Centre Pompidou. The gathering highlighted the importance of long-term partnerships in fostering artistic innovation, preserving cultural heritage and deepening cross-cultural dialogue.
Gong Yan, Director and Artistic Director of the Power Station of Art. Image courtesy of Chanel Hong Cao Fei. Image courtesy of Chanel Hong Kong Limited.
Gong Yan, Director and Artistic Director of the Power Station of Art. Image courtesy of Chanel Hong Kong Limited.
Cao Fei. Image courtesy of Chanel Hong Kong Limited.
As Lead Partner of M+, CHANEL continues to champion initiatives that preserves significant creative legacies while making it accessible to new audiences. Building on the achievements of M+ Restored, the House will further support M+'s moving image programmes, including the next phase of M+ Restored, which will expand its focus to Asian cinema.
From left to right: Doryun Chong, Artistic Director and Chief Curator, M+; Suhanya Raffel, Museum Director, M+; Chow Yun-fat; Silke Schmickl, CHANEL Senior Curator, Moving Image, M+; Paulo Pong, Chairman of the M+ Board. Image courtesy of Chanel Hong Kong Limited.
