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Hong Kong's kung fu film heritage and master honoured in New York (with photo)
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     Hong Kong has been one of the world's major film production centres and spearheading the kung fu genre of films since the latter half of the 20th century with the trendsetting works directed by maestros such as Lau Kar-leung, whose films also form the core of a current kung fu film fest in New York.

     Speaking at the opening film night of the Old School Kung Fu Fest 2014 on April 18 (New York time), the Acting Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, New York (HKETONY), Mr Paul Cheung, said the film industry and other creative industries have become important economic drivers for Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Government has been committed to providing a favourable environment for its film industry to flourish.

     About 200 film fans and critics gathered for the opening night to pay tribute to Master Lau at the screening of "The 36th Chamber of Shaolin" (1978) at the Anthology Film Archives (AFA).
 
     "'The 36th Chamber of Shaolin' was a seminal masterwork in the martial arts genre, so it was pivotal in influencing the movies that came after it. Master Lau's epic action and martial arts films could be traced from his directorial works for the Hong Kong's Shaw Brothers Studio since the 1970s. His contribution to the kung fu genre was well recognised when he was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Hong Kong Film Awards in 2010," said Mr Cheung.

     The HKETONY sponsored the film festival organised by Subway Cinema, the organiser of New York Asian Film Festival, and the AFA. Subway Cinema aims to increase exposure and appreciation of Asian popular film culture in all its forms in New York. The AFA is an international centre for the preservation, study and exhibition of films and videos with specialties in independent and avant-garde cinema.

     In addition to "The 36th Chamber of Shaolin", other films that will be shown over the weekend as part of the tribute to Master Lau as a director were: "Challenge of the Masters (1976); "Heroes of the East" (1978); "Dirty Ho" (1979); and "Legendary Weapons of China" (1982). Two other films to be shown over the weekend will include Master Lau's work as an actor. They were "Master of the Flying Guillotine" (1976) and "Pedicab Driver" (1989).

Ends/Saturday, April 19, 2014
Issued at HKT 22:45

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