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Madrid audiences will get a chance to see some of Hong Kong's latest films with the opening of the Hong Kong Film Panorama in the Spanish capital on February 2 (Spanish time).
Initiated by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Brussels (HKETO, Brussels) in 2004, the Hong Kong Film Panorama is a film festival which tours some of the main European cities every year. It presents a selection of Hong Kong's latest productions as well as some of its classic movies, chosen with the assistance of the Hong Kong International Film Festival Society. The aim is to bring Hong Kong films to new audiences and showcase the creativity and diversity of genres in Hong Kong's present-day cinema, ranging from the ever-popular action films to whimsical fantasy, and from gritty contemporary drama to quirky animation.
This is the fourth time that the Hong Kong Film Panorama will be held in Madrid, the result of a good working relationship established by the HKETO, Brussels with its Spanish co-organiser, Casa Asia. Thereafter, the Film Panorama will tour to Barcelona in end February.
Twelve Hong Kong productions will be screened at the Spanish Film Institute between February 2 and 24: Ann Hui's Night and Fog, Kit Hung's Soundless Windchime, Wai Ka-fai's Written By, Clarence Fok's Iceman Cometh, Danny and Oxide Pang's The Storm Warriors, Herman Yau's Rebellion, Brian Tse and Alice Mak's McDull Kungfu Ding Ding Dong, Felix Chong and Alan Mak's Overheard, Benny Chan's Invisible Target, Johnnie To's Running out of Time, Kirk Wong's Crime Story and Johnnie Mak's The Long Arm of the Law.
Speaking at the opening reception, Deputy Representative of the HKETO Brussels, Ms Hinny Lam, said that Hong Kong films were receiving increasing international recognition, winning over 300 international awards in the past decade. Last September John Woo received a lifetime achievement award at the International Film Festival in Venice. Last February, Alex Law's Echoes of the Rainbow, one of the films assisted by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government's Film Development Fund, received a Crystal Bear award at the Berlin International Film Festival.
Ms Lam said that apart from helping small to medium budget films through the Film Development Fund, the HKSAR Government was also keen to support the wider arts and cultural scene in Hong Kong. In addition to film appreciation, there were many opportunities for cultural exchanges between Hong Kong and Spain.
"In this regard, Hong Kong is building a 40-hectare cultural district in West Kowloon", she said. "The first phase of this district will be commissioned in 2015 and we would welcome Spanish arts and cultural groups to stage performances there."
The 2010-2011 edition of the Hong Kong Film Panorama has so far been held in Dublin, Antwerp, Lisbon and Amsterdam. After Madrid it will continue its European tour in Barcelona in end February and Florence and Athens in April.
Ends/Thursday, February 3, 2011
Issued at HKT 16:40
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