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After a successful showing in Florence which concluded on April 6, the Hong Kong Film Panorama, a film festival which tours some of the main European cities every year at the initiative of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Brussels (HKETO, Brussels), opened in Athens on April 14 (Greek time).
Speaking at the opening reception, Deputy Representative of the HKETO, Brussels, Mr Eddie Lee, said this was the second consecutive year that the HKETO had brought Hong Kong films to Athens audiences in co-operation with the Greek Film Archive Foundation.
Six Hong Kong films will be screened from April 14 to 20 at the Greek Film Archive Foundation's cinema "Lais", located at the junction of Iera Odos and Megalou Alexandrou Street. They include two 2009 productions, Kit Hung's "Soundless Windchime" and Felix Chong and Alan Mak's "Overheard", and four classic action movies, Johnny Mak's "The Long Arm of the Law", Johnnie To's "Running out of Time", Kirk Wong's "Crime Story" and Clarence Fok's "The Iceman Cometh".
"The film industry and other creative industries have been one of the six new economic growth sectors Hong Kong has been promoting," Mr Lee said. "With the Government's efforts to nurture creativity and to assist small to medium budget movies through the Film Development Fund, I am pleased to say that the Hong Kong film industry has continued to thrive. It is also receiving increasing international recognition. In the past decade Hong Kong films have won over 300 international awards.
"Beyond sponsorship, the Government also ensures that the right environment is in place for creative industries to flourish. Free speech and expression are guaranteed to Hong Kong under the Basic Law, our constitutional document," he added.
Mr Lee said that apart from film appreciation, there are many other opportunities for cultural exchange between Hong Kong and Greece, not least in view of the construction of the West Kowloon Cultural District. "We would welcome Greek arts and cultural groups to perform there," he said.
Ends/Friday, April 15, 2011
Issued at HKT 16:09
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