***********************************************************
The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels (HKETO, Brussels) is bringing the Hong Kong Film Panorama to Madrid, Spain, from February 21 to March 14 in co-operation with its local partners, Casa Asia and the Film Archive of Madrid.
The Hong Kong Film Panorama is an annual film festival organised by the HKETO, Brussels, which brings some of Hong Kong's latest film productions to new audiences across Europe. This is the sixth time that HKETO, Brussels, in collaboration with Casa Asia, brings the festival to the Spanish capital.
Nine recent Hong Kong films will be screened at the Filmoteca Espanola's Cine Dorˆm, namely Ms Ann Hui's "A Simple Life" and her short film, "My Way", Mr Yim Ho's "Floating City", Mr Daniel Lee's "White Vengeance", Mr Herman Yau's "Love Lifting", Mr Bill Yip's "The Cure", Mr Oxide Pang's "The Detective 2", Mr Derek Yee's "The Great Magician", and Mr Jeff Lau's "East Meets West". After Madrid, the festival, which was screened in Lisbon in January, will continue its tour in Florence, Barcelona, and other major cities in Europe.
Speaking at the opening reception of the festival in Madrid today (February 21, Madrid time), the Deputy Representative of the HKETO, Brussels, Miss Drew Lai, said that Hong Kong takes pride in itself as a creative hub and its films serve as a brilliant cultural ambassador.
Many people around the world who have never visited Hong Kong get to know our city through our movies, which have enjoyed both popular success and international acclaim. The latest film of one of Hong Kong's best known directors, Mr Wong Kar-wai, recently opened the Berlin Film Festival, where Mr Wong was also the president of the festival competition jury. Another good example is the Panorama's multi-award winning opening film, "A Simple Life".
"The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government is keen to promote and nurture our creative industries. From 2015 onwards, the West Kowloon Cultural District that we are constructing on a 40-hectare waterfront site will start coming into operation in phases," Miss Lai said.
"We also assist small-to-medium budget movies through our Film Development Fund. One of the movies that have benefited from the Fund is Mr Herman Yau's 'Love Lifting', which will be shown in this festival."
She added that beyond sponsorship and infrastructure, the Government also ensures that the right environment is in place for creative industries to flourish.
"Free speech and the free flow of information and ideas are key elements of Hong Kong's cherished values and they are guaranteed by our constitutional document, the Basic Law."
Miss Lai invited the audience to pay an early visit to Hong Kong to enjoy its rich and diverse culture.
Ends/Friday, February 22, 2013
Issued at HKT 02:30
NNNN
