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The "63rd Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China and the Chinese Film Panorama 2012 Celebration Dinner" was held tonight (October 19) at the JW Marriott Hotel Hong Kong. The Chinese Film Panorama 2012 opened with the award-winning film "Kora"(2011), directed by Du Jiayi.
The "Chinese Film Panorama 2012 - New Forces of the Chinese Cinema" is jointly presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) and the South China Film Industry Workers Union, in association with Sil-Metropole Organisation Ltd and Southern Film Co Ltd.
Ten selected Mainland films showcasing the different styles of the "new forces" directors will be screened from tomorrow (October 20) to November 25 at the Cinema of the Hong Kong Film Archive, the Lecture Hall of the Hong Kong Space Museum and Cine-Art House.
The officiating guests were the Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), Mr Li Gang; the Director-General of the Film Bureau, State Administration of Radio, Film and Television, Mr Tong Gang; the Director-General of the Publicity, Culture and Sports Department, Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, Mr Hao Tiechuan; the Deputy Director of the Basic Law Committee of the HKSAR, Ms Elsie Leung; the Permanent Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Raymond Young; the Chairman of the Committee of Hong Kong Entertainment Industry, Mr Peter Lam; the Chairman of the Federation of Hong Kong Filmmakers, Mr Ng See-yuen; the Chairman of the Movie Producers and Distributors Association of Hong Kong, Mr Raymond Wong; the President of the Hong Kong Theatres Association, Mr Chan Wing-mei; the Honorary President of Hong Kong Film Directors' Guild, Mr Cheung Tung-joe; the President of the Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China, Mr Timothy Fok; the Vice Chairman of the Hong Kong Motion Picture Industry Association, Mr Patrick Tong; the Chief Manager of the LCSD (Film and Cultural Exchange), Ms Maggie Pang; the Chairman of the South China Film Industry Workers Union, Mr Cheung Hong-tat and the Chairman and Deputy General Manager of the Sil-Metropole Organisation Ltd, Ms Ren Yue.
Other guests included the HKSAR Deputy to the National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China and Legislative Council member, Mr Ma Fung-kwok; the Chairman of the Hong Kong Film Development Council, Mr Jack So; the director of the opening film "Kora", Du Jiayi; Mainland actress Xu Fan, and other film celebrities Paw Hee-ching, Peter Pau, Teddy Robin, Ku Feng, Peter Yung, Susan Shaw, Pak Yan, Yu Mo-lin, Bonnie Wong, Zhu Hong, Irene Wan, Jonathan Wong and others.
The Chinese Film Panorama has been held since 1997 to bring quality Mainland films to local audiences and display the developments and the achievements of the Chinese film industry.
With the exponential growth of the Chinese film industry, new filmmakers have revitalised the genre with their passion and creativity. With "New Forces of the Chinese Cinema" as this year's theme, works by exciting "new forces" directors will be screened. Some of the selected films have won awards at international film festivals, others portray urban lifestyles, young adults growing up or seeking to fulfill their dreams. Shot in different styles, the films present the audience with great images while also reflecting real life.
The opening film "Kora" features a Taiwanese youngster embarking on a 2,000-kilometre bicycle trip from Lijiang in Yunnan to Lhasa in Tibet in order to fulfill the wishes of his dead brother. It is a journey involving extreme cold weather, daunting mountains and fast-flowing rivers, but he finally reaches the 5,000-metre-high snowy mountains due to his great persistence. The adventure also involves magnificent scenery, enchanting humanity and personal enlightenment. The film won the Best Artistic Contribution Award at the 24th Tokyo International Film Festival and Best Debut Film at the 19th Beijing College Student Film Festival.
Other films to be screened are "Be A Mother"(2011), which tackles the issue of surrogate motherhood; a delightful urban comedy "Sleepless Fashion"(2011); "Lucky Dog"(2009), depicting life in a north-east provincial town; the absurd black humour satire "No Liar, No Cry"(2011); the touching "Promise"(2012); a picturesque melodrama with pleasant music, "Folk Songs Singing"(2011); "Heaven Eternal, Earth Everlasting"(2010) featuring young adults growing up; "City Monkey"(2010), a film full of energy and "Memories from the Watchtower"(2012), a film set in the military stations on the Chinese-Soviet border. Some of the films star popular actors and actresses from the Mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan who are known to local audiences such as Fan Wei, Guo Tao, Vic Chou, Vivian Hsu, Alan Tam, Alex Fong, Wu Gang, Zhang Xinyu, Cherrie Ying and others.
All films are in Putonghua with Chinese and English subtitles.
Tickets priced at $55 are available at URBTIX (for screenings at the Hong Kong Film Archive and Hong Kong Space Museum), Cine-Art House and Cityline (for screenings at Cine-Art House). Half-price tickets are available for senior citizens aged 60 and above, people with disabilities and their minders, full-time students and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance recipients. Credit card telephone bookings can be made at 2111 5999 (URBTIX) or 2317 6666 (Cityline), or Internet bookings at www.urbtix.hk (URBTIX) or www.cityline.com (Cityline).
For enquiries, please call 2734 2900. Programme details can be found in the programme booklets available at all URBTIX outlets or Cine-Art House, or by browsing the webpage at www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/filmprog/english/2012cfp/2012cfp_index.html.
Ends/Friday, October 19, 2012
Issued at HKT 21:38
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