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The overwhelming response to Hong Kong martial arts megastar Donnie Yen as well as director Pang Ho-cheung attending the New York Asian Film Festival (NYAFF) and the quick ticket sell-out of the many Hong Kong movies screened in the festival bore testimony to the massive appeal of Hong Kong movies to New Yorkers.
Speaking at the Hong Kong film reception at the Festival in Lincoln Center today (July 9, New York time), Director of Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, New York, Miss Anita Chan, said the film festival showcased the impressive achievements and developments of the Hong Kong film industry over the past 15 years, in particular on the co-productions with Mainland China.
More than 10 Hong Kong award-winning films were screened at the NYAFF, under the theme "Return of the King: Hong Kong Movies 15 Years after the Handover" as part of the 15th anniversary celebration of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
Miss Chan said that it was noteworthy that Hong Kong movies, with a variety of genres and creativity, not only made an impact on the Asian and Mainland Chinese film industries, but also in Hollywood and international films.
She cited as examples that Hong Kong's "Infernal Affairs" has led to the production of Martin Scorsese's "The Departed"; while Ann Hui's "A Simple Life" swept major film awards in Venice, Taipei, and Hong Kong. Both movies were shown at the NYAFF.
"Hong Kong truly offers the ideal platform for 'East-meets-West', for continued collaborations and exchanges between Hollywood and Hong Kong film industries as well as for international companies to tap into the Chinese market," she said.
Miss Chan added that the Hong Kong government has been supporting the film industry through various initiatives, including the US$39 million Film Development Fund which provides financial support for projects conducive to the long-term development of the film industry.
Since the implementation of Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement, there has been an increase in the number of Hong Kong-Mainland film co-productions, she said. "Last year (2011), six out of the 10 box office hits in Mainland China were co-productions with Hong Kong filmmakers." "Dragon (Wu Xia)" and "The Lost Bladesman" , also included in the NYAFF, were among the top-10 co-produced box-office hit movies in both Hong Kong and the Mainland in 2011.
Donnie Yen, martial arts megastar and action director of "Dragon (Wu Xia)", graced the reception and received the Festival's "Star Asia Award" in recognition of his contribution to the film industry, from starring to choreographing action.
The list of Hong Kong films in the NYAFF from June 29 to July 9 included "Dragon (Wu Xia)", "East Meets West", "Infernal Affairs ", "Infernal Affairs 2", "The Lost Bladesman", "Love in the Buff", "Pang Ho-cheung's First Attempts (Bank Robbery and The First Adventure of the Three Gangsta Bears)", "A Simple Life", "SPL" and "Vulgaria".
Ends/Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Issued at HKT 09:19
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