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The first Hong Kong Film Festival (HKFF) ever staged in Calgary will showcase seven of the best films directed by international renowned Hong Kong director John Woo. The HKFF is launched in Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver from late June to late July to mark the sixth anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

It is also part of the Hong Kong Government's effort to enhance Canadian's understanding and appreciation of Hong Kong films and the film making industry in Hong Kong.

Presented by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Canada)(HKETO), with the full support of Fairchild Radio FM94.7 in Calgary as its producer, the HKFF entitled "Gems from Asia's Hollywood - A Retrospect of John Woo" will be screened on July 18, 19 and 20 at The Uptown (612-8th Avenue SW) in Calgary. Proceeds of the film festival will be donated to Alberta Children's Hospital.

Announcing details of the film festival today (June 23, Toronto time), the Director of the HKETO, Mrs Rosanna Ure, said: "We are very pleased to stage the first-ever Hong Kong Film Festival in Calgary and contribute towards local charity.

"The seven films in the festival series represent some of the early works of John Woo. Through them, not only can we have a glimpse of his unique directing style, but also the evolution and development of Hong Kong's film industry over the past decades."

Hong Kong has a very robust and vibrant film industry and is a major film production center in the world. In the past decade, films produced in Hong Kong have gained international recognition and received numerous awards in film festivals around the world.

"We hope that by presenting this film festival, our Calgary friends can have a better understanding and appreciation on Hong Kong's film production, as well as its many talents who are now enjoying international popularity," Mrs Ure added.

Joining Mrs Ure at today's press conference are the Communications and Marketing Manager of the Alberta Children's Hospital Foundation, Ms Belinda Lamb, and Fairchild Media Group's Alberta Regional Manager, Ms Christine Leung.

The seven films to be showcased at Calgary's Uptown theatre on July 18, 19 and 20 are: <Hard-Boiled>, <Shaolin Men>, <To Hell with the Devil>, <The Killer > (subject to change), <Laughing Times>, <A Better Tomorrow> and <A Better Tomorrow II>.

Ticket holders of the film festivals are entitled to a lucky draw, the grand prize of which is two economy class tickets, either from Toronto or Vancouver to Hong Kong and 5-night hotel accommodation in Kowloon Shangri-La Hotel, Hong Kong, courtesy of Cathay Pacific Airways, Hong Kong Tourism Board and Kowloon Shangri-La Hotel.

With the only exception of the closing film <A Better Tomorrow II> on July 20, tickets for all films are priced at C$8 each. Tickets for the closing film are at C$10. VIP tickets (including a closing reception at 6:00pm on July 20) will be available at C$25.

Tickets of the HKFF in Calgary will be available from July 2 at: The Uptown (403-265-0122), Alberta Children's Hospital Foundation (403-209-6134 / 403-943-7079) and Fairchild Radio FM 94.7 (403-717-1940). Please call for details.

<Gems from Asia's Hollywood - A Retrospect of John Woo> is fully supported by Hong Kong Trade Development Council with Fairchild TV, Calgary Sun, Sing Tao Daily and Trend Weekly as its media sponsors.

End/Tuesday, June 24, 2003

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