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This year's Fantasia International Film Festival in Montreal will feature nine of the latest Hong Kong films, with "Ip Man 2", one of the two opening films, to be screened on July 8 (Montreal time) at Concordia University's Hall Theatre.
Sponsored by the Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office (HKETO) in Canada, the Hong Kong film section will present some of Hong Kong's most popular martial arts films, including the Canadian premieres of "Ip Man 2", "Gallants", "Bodyguards and Assassins", "Dream Home" and Jackie Chan's "Little Big Soldier". The festival will also bring to Montreal the international premiere of Pang Ho-cheung's award-winning "Love in a Puff", and the Montreal premieres of "Overheard", "Written By" and "Accident".
" 'Ip Man 2', which was screened at the New York Asian Film Festival earlier this year, has outgrossed 'Iron Man 2' at the Hong Kong and Mainland Chinese box offices," said a Fantasia spokesman. "But people attending the festival may have a pleasant surprise when they see the retro-70s film, 'Gallants', which assembles a cast of kung fu stars, including Leung Siu-lung and Chan Koon-ti."
The "Gallants" is a kung fu comedy, and an old-school martial arts story. It was screened at the Marche du Film in Cannes earlier. It was described by critics as "Fun, fun stuff and definitely one of the most entertaining films of the year." The film's co-director Clement Cheng and Hong Kong kung fu actor Leung Siu-lung, who plays a leading role in the film, will be attending the screening on Saturday evening.
"Hong Kong continues to make quality films that appeal to an international audience while retaining its distinct features," said Ms Maureen Siu, the HKETO director. "After the commercial and critical success of 'Ip Man' - the story of Bruce Lee's master - in 2008, the martial arts genre saw a resurgence." She thanked the Fantasia organisers for picking the martial arts films as a tribute to all those who have contributed to Hong Kong's film industry, and to mark the 70th birthday of Bruce Lee, one of the most influential icons in kung fu films.
The HKETO has been supporting Fantasia's Hong Kong programming since 2005. The 14th edition of the three-week festival will last until July 28. It will show over 120 feature films and several hundred short films.
For the complete lineup of the festival, please go to its official website: www.fantasiafestival.com/2010/en/
Ends/Thursday, July 8, 2010
Issued at HKT 11:43
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