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"Hong Kong Films: 10 Years After", the first University of Toronto Film Festival, was launched today (April 16, Toronto time) by Assistant Director (Public Relations) of the Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO), Mr Stephen Siu and Director of Munk Centre's Asian Institute of the University of Toronto (U of T), Mr Joseph Wong. The event is part of celebration activities in Canada to mark the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
The lineup of films and panels were revealed by Professor of Cinema Studies (U of T), Mr Bart Testa and Ms Alice Shih from Reel Asian International Film Festival. Special guest was Academy Award-winning animator Chris Landreth.
The festival, to be held from May 4 to 6 is co-presented by the Asian Institute at the University of Toronto, the Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival and the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office.
The May 4 opening night gala starts at the ROM Theatre with the Toronto premiere of "Isabella", directed by Pang Ho-cheung. The film has received a nomination for best actress by the Hong Kong Film Award Association and is winner of best original film score; the film has also won a Silver Bear at the 56th Berlin Film Festival for best film music. The opening night party celebration will be held at the Munk Centre.
The festival continues with Saturday morning (May 5, Toronto time) cartoons at 10am in the Innis Town Hall with the short film "Jaime Lo, Small and Shy" and the feature "My Life as McDull" directed by Toe Yuen. An animation and comics panel follows with Wendy Wong (York University) and Chris Landreth (Academy Award Winning Animator). The afternoon session opens with a keynote conversation at 1.30pm with Hong Kong film experts, Poshek Fu (University of Illinoi at Urbana-Champaign) and Leong Ping-kwan (Lingnan University, Hong Kong). Horror cinema is represented at 2.30pm with the short film "Banana Bruises" and the feature "Dumplings". A horror panel follows with Suzie Young (York University) and Bart Testa (U of T). In the evening at 6.30pm will be a director Derek Yee fest with a melodrama "Lost in Time" and a crime thriller "One Nite in Mongkok", short films "Eastbound" and "Asthma Tech" precede respectively each feature.
The festival on Sunday (May 6, Toronto time) is also in the Innis Town Hall and starts at 1pm with short film "My Matsura" and a mocumentary "The Heavenly Kings" directed by Daniel Wu. The Hong Kong film industry panel follows with Peter Rist (Concordia University), Raymond Chow (Media Specialist), and Colin Geddes (Ultra 8 Pictures). The closing film at 4pm is the social drama "From the Queen to the Chief Executive" directed by Herman Yau.
Advanced tickets can be purchased at UofT Tix by phone at (416) 978-8849, on-line at www.uofttix.ca, or in person at Hart House, at 7 Hart House Circle. The Box Office is open Monday-Friday from 11am to 5pm.
Tickets to all screenings, including opening night, can be also purchased 30 minutes before screening time at the venue box office.
Ends/Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Issued at HKT 12:12
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