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The "Chinese Film Panorama 2007" opened tonight (September 17) at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre (HKCC).
The event is jointly presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and South China Film Industry Workers Union, in association with Sil-Metropole Organisation Ltd and Southern Film Co Ltd. The Chinese Film Panorama has been held annually since 1997 and it is one of the programmes celebrating the 10th Anniversary of the establishment of the HKSAR.
Officiating at the ceremony were the Deputy Director-General of Film Bureau of the State Administration of Radio, Film and TV in the People's Republic of China, Mr Zhang Pimin, the Deputy Director of Hong Kong Basic Law Committee, Ms Elsie Leung Oi-sie, the Director General of Publicity of Culture and Sports Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, Ms Zhang Yanjun, the Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Mr Thomas Chow, the Chairman of South China Film Industry Workers Union, Mr Yu Lun; the Chairman and General Manager of Sil-Metropole Organisation Ltd, Mr Song Dai and the Managing Director of Southern Film Co Ltd, Mr Dixon Lau.
Other guests include the director of the opening film "Gun of Mercy", Xiao Feng, leading actors Liu Peiqi and Jiang Wu, producer Cong Shan, executive producers Liu Jianmin and Gao Xiaoping; the director of "One Foot Off The Ground", Chen Daming, actress Xiao Xiangyu, executive producer Wang Zhonglei together with local film directors, film stars and celebrities.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mr Chow said that with the rapid economic growth in China, Chinese cinema was blooming in terms of genre and style, quality and quantity, and the winning of various international awards by Chinese films also showed the vitality of the industry.
From today to October 14, 10 new Mainland productions with wide-ranging themes and individualistic styles will be screened at the Grand Theatre of the HKCC, the Cinema of the Hong Kong Film Archive, the Lecture Halls of the Hong Kong Space Museum and the Hong Kong Science Museum.
Five screened films won a total of seven awards at the recent 12th Huabiao Film Awards. "My Long March", "A Big Potato" and "Postman In Shangri-la" won the Best Feature Film Awards, Fu Dalong of "The Forest Ranger" won the Best Actor Award. Qiu Lin of the ˇ§Postman In Shangri-laˇ¨ won the Best New Comer Award. "My Long March" won the Best Playwright Award while "Yuanmingyuan Park" won the Best Science Film Award.
Based on an award-winning story, the opening film "Gun of Mercy" (2007) has blended reality-based drama with action, natural disaster, suspense and romance. Cast members from both Hong Kong and the Mainland, including award-winning actors Liu Peiqi, and Jiang Wu and Hong Kong's Wu Dawei.
Other highlights include "A Big Potato" (2007) performed and directed by the straight-faced comedian Feng Gong; "One Foot Off The Ground" (2006) which contains humour with melancholy, laughter within bitter callous; "The Forest Ranger" (2006) featuring an army veteran who abids his duty to guard the remote forest against illegal poachers; an affectionate true story "Postman In Shangri-la" (2007) and "Two Women In Red Scarves" (2006) with a distinct northeastern snow country customs and flavour.
Not to be missed are the romantic comedy "Call For Love" (2006), experimental drama "3 City Hotshots" (2007), a brilliantly constructed portrait of nature and humanism "My Long March" (2006) and the documentary "Yuanmingyuan Park" (2006) which reconstructs the Qing Imperial Palace from its creation to its destruction with digital technology. An additional screening of "Yuanmingyuan Park" has been scheduled for 7.30pm on October 9 at the Cinema of Hong Kong Film Archive.
All films are in Putonghua, with English and Chinese subtitles.
Tickets priced at $40 are available at URBTIX outlets. Half-price tickets are available for senior citizens, people with disabilities, full-time students and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance recipients.
For programme information and discount details, please call 2734 2900, 2780 5355 or 2527 7284 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/fp. Reservations can be made by phone on 2734 9009 or on the Internet at www.urbtix.hk.
Ends/Monday, September 17, 2007
Issued at HKT 21:20
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