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The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Brussels (HKETO) has promoted the Hong Kong film industry at two events in the Netherlands, held at the International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) and at the EYE Film Institute in Amsterdam respectively.
On January 27 (Netherlands time) the HKETO hosted a reception at the IFFR in support of a programme of Hong Kong films presented at the Festival. Fifteen Hong Kong films are among the eighteen movies selected for the Water Tiger Inn programme, which traces the development of the wu xia genre in films from the early days to the present.
Together with the Cannes, Venice, Berlin and Locarno festivals, the IFFR is considered one of the most important international film festivals in Europe. The current edition of the IFFR, taking place from January 26 to February 6, is assuming particular importance as the Festival is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year.
Speaking at the reception, Special Representative for Hong Kong Economic and Trade Affairs to the European Union, Miss Mary Chow, congratulated the IFFR on the occasion of its 40th anniversary. She noted that having always placed strong emphasis on films from the Far East in its programming, the Festival had done much to bring Hong Kong films to Dutch and international audiences over the years.
Miss Chow said that for a long time, Hong Kong was best known for popular comedies and martial arts films with kungfu stars like Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan. While these films retained a very enthusiastic and loyal following, in recent years Hong Kong filmmakers had ventured into other themes with more intricate plots and more complex characterisation.
"Our film industry has built a reputation for creativity, innovation and diversity. This has a lot to do with the benefits of free speech and expression, guaranteed to Hong Kong under the Basic Law, our constitutional document," she said.
Miss Chow added that apart from films, Hong Kong is also promoting culture and other creative industries. A 40-hectare cultural district is under development on a prime waterfront site in West Kowloon.
This was the second Hong Kong film event supported or organised by the HKETO this month. On January 13 it hosted a reception for the opening of the Hong Kong Film Panorama at the EYE Film Institute in Amsterdam. The Hong Kong Film Panorama is an annual event initiated by the HKETO, which aims to bring some of Hong Kong's latest productions and classic movies to new audiences in a number of major European cities. This is the seventh year in succession that the Panorama is shown in Amsterdam in co-operation with EYE Film Institute.
The programme of the Panorama, which will run until February 9, includes Brian Tse and Alice Mak's film McDull Kungfu, Ann Hui's Night and Fog, Oxide and Danny Pang's Storm Warriors, Wai Ka-fai's Written By, Kit Hung's Soundless Windchime, Herman Mak's Rebellion and Felix Chong and Alan Mak's Overheard, as well as Hong Kong films from EYE's own collections.
The next stops on the Hong Kong Film Panorama's European tour will be Madrid and Barcelona in February, and Florence and Athens in April.
Ends/Friday, January 28, 2011
Issued at HKT 01:02
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