Beyond Art Basel: 11 best cultural events in Hong Kong this month, from a Coco Chanel ballet and M+’s Yayoi Kusama retrospective, to a Leslie Cheung tribute and Mirror’s Edan Lui at HKT x WestK Popfest

March is proving to be mayhem for events in Hong Kong, with the recent successes of events including Clockenflap and the Hong Kong Arts Festival earlier in the month, and the hot-ticketed Rugby Sevens tournament taking place at the end of this month. And with Art Basel’s 2023 iteration promising bigger names, more galleries and a whole host of new offerings, it may come as no surprise that the rest of the city is following suit.

Coco Chanel revolutionised the fashion world, and her iconic creations – the likes of which include the little black dress and bouclé jackets – have stood the test of time. Her story is told through ballet for the first time in this world premiere choreographed by Annabelle Lopez Ochoa. The production features an original score by Peter Salem and costumes by award-winning designer Jérôme Kaplan.

The Hong Kong International Film Festival returns this year with a 47th edition in a hybrid format, offering a combination of in-person screenings and events as well as curated online programmes. With Aaron Kwok returning as festival ambassador, highlights include the complete Jûzô Itami retrospective, an eight-film tribute to Jean-Luc Godard and his muse Anna Karina, and screenings of eight classic films – including films by Satyajit Ray and Bernardo Bertolucci – digitally remastered in 4K.