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Award-winning Hong Kong filmmakers Alex Law and Mabel Cheung were in Brussels, Belgium today (December 5, Brussels time) for a special screening of "Echoes of the Rainbow" in one of the capital of Europe's most prestigious art venues, Bozar.
Mr Law, the film's director, and Ms Cheung, its producer, are visiting Brussels, Antwerp, Amsterdam and Leiden from 5 to 12 December at the invitation of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Brussels on the occasion of the launch of the 2011-2012 Hong Kong Film Panorama in Belgium and The Netherlands.
The Hong Kong Film Panorama is an annual festival organised by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Brussels to bring some of Hong Kong's latest films and all-time classic movies to a wider audience in Europe. "Echoes of the Rainbow", which won a Crystal Bear for the Best Feature Film in the Generation section at the 60th Berlin International Film Festival in 2010, is this year's opening film in Brussels, Antwerp and Amsterdam.
In Antwerp the film will open the Hong Kong Film Panorama at Cinema Zuid on December 7. Other films on the programme, which runs until December 23, are Mr Freddie Wong's "The Drunkard", Mr Derek Kwok's "Gallants" and Mr Wong Kar-wai's "Ashes of Time Redux".
In Amsterdam the Hong Kong Film Panorama will be screened at the EYE Film Institute, the Dutch centre for film culture and heritage, on December 8-13. Additional films that will be shown in Amsterdam are Ms Ann Hui's "All About Love" and Mr Chan Hing-kai and Ms Janet Chun's "La Comˆmdie Humaine".
Special Representative for Hong Kong Economic and Trade Affairs to the EU, Miss Mary Chow, congratulated Mr Law and Ms Cheung on their achievement.
She noted that over the past decade, Hong Kong movies and film talent have won over 300 international awards. In September this year, a Hong Kong actress, Ms Deanie Ip, won the Best Actress Award at the 68th Venice International Film Festival. She has a leading role in a film by Hong Kong director Ms Ann Hui entitled "A Simple Life". Last year the Festival had bestowed a lifetime achievement award on Hong Kong film director Mr John Woo.
She said that Hong Kong SAR Government was doing its part to maintain an environment conducive to the development of Hong Kong's film industries including sponsoring small to medium budget movies through a Film Development Fund.
During a lively question and answer session with the audience after the screening of "Echoes of the Rainbow" in Brussels, Mr Law said he was delighted to be in Europe and happy that the sentiments and values expressed in his semi-autobiographical drama were able to transcend borders.
During their visit to Belgium and the Netherlands Mr Law and Ms Cheung will also give interviews to the local media and deliver a guest lecture at the University of Leiden's Faculty of China Studies, in co-operation with the EYE Film Institute.
Ends/Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Issued at HKT 03:50
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