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The Hong Kong Film Festival 2012 in Malaysia was launched in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, with a gala premiere this evening (March 9).
The Hong Kong Film Festival 2012 in Malaysia is organised by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) in Singapore, with the support of 988 Radio Station Malaysia and the Golden Screen Cinemas.
With the award-winning movie "A Simple Life" as the opening film, the gala premiere drew the attendance of some 250 guests from the Malaysian government, business and media sectors.
Invited to attend the event were the film's director, Ms Ann Hui, and the lead actress, Ms Deanie Ip. They have won a number of prestigious international and Hong Kong film awards. Apart from the opening film, seven other Hong Kong movies will be featured in the film festival.
Speaking at the gala premiere, the Director of the HKETO in Singapore, Mr Fong Ngai, said the outstanding performance of Hong Kong movies has reflected the status of Hong Kong as one of the major film production centres in the world.
"In addition to first-rate film artistes, Hong Kong also has state-of-the-art facilities and high-quality services for film production. From shooting to post-production, Hong Kong offers everything needed to make a world-class full-length feature film."
Mr Fong said talent is the key to the development of Hong Kong's film industry. In November 2011, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government and the Hong Kong Film Development Council (FDC) launched a large-scale project, "Hong Kong Film New Action: Film and Multi-media Cross-Platform Collaboration", to promote collaboration between film and multi-media industries. The project also promotes new generation producers to help groom film production talent in Hong Kong.
In the past few years, FDC delegations comprising Hong Kong film directors of the new generation paid visits to various places and countries including Malaysia to promote co-operation and exchanges. These visits have facilitated the development of local new generation directors by establishing platforms for them to interact with filmmakers, investors and distributors from abroad.
The implementation of the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) in 2003 has broadened the horizon for Hong Kong's film industry. "To gain full benefits from CEPA immediately, overseas companies, including those in Malaysia, can partner with, invest in or acquire a CEPA-qualified firm in Hong Kong in order to access the Mainland market with the benefit of a nationality-neutral status," Mr Fong said.
This year will see Hong Kong celebrate the 15th anniversary of the establishment of the HKSAR. Mr Fong said, "In the past 15 years, the film industry has continued to spearhead the development of our creative economy. So long as we continue to groom creative talents, I am confident Hong Kong's film industry will flourish in the many years to come."
Officiating at today's event was the Deputy Secretary General of Information, Communications and Culture of the Malaysian Government, Datuk Abdul Ghaffar A Tambi.
Earlier in the day, Ms Hui had exchanges in a workshop with nearly 100 students and film practitioners who are interested in filmmaking and Hong Kong films.
The film festival will be held from March 15 to 18 in Kuala Lumpur and from March 22 to 25 in Penang. It is the first time for the film festival to be held in Penang, so as to enable more Malaysian movie-goers to attend the film festival.
Ends/Friday, March 9, 2012
Issued at HKT 20:57
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