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"Cold War", a Hong Kong movie that has recently garnered nine Hong Kong Film Awards this year, was screened at the 56th San Francisco International Film Festival today (April 29, San Francisco time). It is one of the two Hong Kong movies featured in this year's festival.
Founded in 1957, the San Francisco International Film Festival is the longest-running film festival in the Americas. More than 150 films are featured in this two-week festival.
Speaking at the Hong Kong Film Reception prior to the screening of "Cold War", the Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, San Francisco, Ms Subrina Chow, said she was pleased to see the award-winning movie chosen for this year's festival. This Best Picture is the first feature film directed by Longman Leung and Sunny Luk, who also won the Best Director and Best Screenplay trophies at the 32nd Hong Kong Film Awards.
Ms Chow also welcomed the director of "Big Blue Lake", Jessey Tsang, who joined the reception. This other Hong Kong movie featured in the festival is also an award winner. Director Tsang, who was named Best New Director at last year's Hong Kong Film Awards, had a conversation with the audience after the two earlier screenings of "Big Blue Lake" on April 26 and 28.
"Creativity, free flow of information and freedom of expression are highly valued in Hong Kong. These are also the essential elements that have fostered the growth of our film industry and other creative industries over the years," said Ms Chow.
"We are proud of our film talents, more and more of whom are gaining recognition around the world. In the past 10 years alone, Hong Kong films and film talents have won over 300 international awards."
She encouraged filmmakers to make their next movies in Hong Kong, capitalising on the experience of the Hong Kong film industry, the state-of-the art facilities and high-quality services for film production.
More than 100 guests attended the reception, followed by the sold-out screening of "Cold War".
Ends/Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Issued at HKT 12:29
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