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The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) in Singapore will organise the Hong Kong Film Festival (HKFF) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from March 5 to 8, to show eight productions by Hong Kong new generation directors to the Malaysian audience.
Announcing details of the HKFF at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today (February 26), the Director of HKETO in Singapore, Ms Subrina Chow, said Malaysia has been a major market for Hong Kong movies since the 1960s. Noting that this is the first HKFF ever held in Malaysia, she said that besides strengthening cultural exchanges between Hong Kong and Malaysia, the film festival was a way to express appreciation for the faithful support of Malaysian audiences for Hong Kong films.
Ms Chow said: "Movies are Hong Kong's best cultural ambassador. Over the years, Hong Kong movies are not only popular among audiences in the Southeast Asian region, but have also won international acclaim."
HKETO in Singapore, the representative office of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (HKSARG) in the ASEAN region, is committed to strengthening economic and trade relations and enhancing bilateral exchanges in culture and other aspects between Hong Kong and ASEAN countries
Ms Chow said: "To promote Hong Kong movies and share the unique culture of our city with more people in the region, the HKETO in Singapore organised two Hong Kong Film Festivals in Singapore in the past, featuring Hong Kong movies of various eras. They received a very enthusiastic response from the Singaporean audience. We are glad this year we are holding our first HKFF in Kuala Lumpur."
Movies featured in the Hong Kong Film Festival 2009 in Kuala Lumpur include the opening movie "The Pye-Dog" that will be shown at the gala premiere, "A Decade of Love", "Explosive City", "Eye In The Sky", "L for Love, L for Lies", "Magic Boy", "The Floating Landscape" and the closing movie "Tactical Unit – Comrades In Arms".
The HKFF in Kuala Lumpur coincided with the visit of a delegation of Hong Kong new generation directors and producers led by the Chairman and members of the Hong Kong Film Development Council (HKFDC) to Singapore and Malaysia from February 24 to 27.
Ms Chow said: "Set up by the HKSARG in 2007, the HKFDC launched the 'Hong Kong Film: New Action' project at the end of last year, with the aim of expanding overseas markets for Hong Kong movies and promoting Hong Kong film directors of the new generation so as to create more market opportunities for the future leaders of Hong Kong's film industry. The Southeast Asian market is one of the major targets of the project."
Speaking at the press conference, the Chairman of the HKFDC, Mr Jack So, said a delegation of 20-odd members visited Singapore and Malaysia this week to promote Hong Kong film directors of the new generation and explore opportunities for co-operation on film productions and investment.
"To break new ground for our film industry, Hong Kong will have to join hands with Mainland China, Singapore, Malaysia and Taiwan and pool resources of the five places to develop the film industry and expand the market for Chinese language films in the region as a whole," Mr So said.
Members of the HKFDC delegation also attending the press conference included the Commissioner for Television and Entertainment Licensing of Hong Kong, Ms Maisie Cheng; HKFDC member and film director, Mr Raymond Wong and Ms Mabel Cheung; HKFDC Secretary-General, Mr Wellington Fung; Hong Kong film directors and producers, Mr Derek Kwok, Mr Teddy Robin, Mr Law Wing Cheong, Mr Chan Wing Chiu, Mr Chang Wai Hung, Ms Agnes Hon, Ms Carol Lai, Mr Adam Wong, Mr Samson Chiu, Mr Tang Hon Keung and Ms Mak Hei Yan.
After the press conference, some of the Hong Kong film directors/producers attended the film workshop of the HKFF as guest speakers for exchanges with about 100 students in film production and other members of the audience.
Ends/Thursday, February 26, 2009
Issued at HKT 18:53
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