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Sydney cinema-goers will be treated to four Hong Kong box office hits in a film festival to celebrate the Chinese New Year. The festival, to be held in Hurstville, Sydney, from February 15-27, was officially launched today (February 13) by the Director of Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Sydney, Ms Lorna Wong.
The Hong Kong Film Festival forms part of the Hurstville Chinese New Year Programme, which is the largest New Year celebration outside the Sydney central business district.
"This is the second time we have collaborated with Hurstville City Council to promote the achievements of one of Hong Kong's most vibrant industries," Ms Wong said.
"I'm delighted that this year we have expanded the Hong Kong Film Festival to two weeks."
The festival opens with John Woo's 2008 historical epic Red Cliff - the most expensive Asian-financed film to date at a cost of US$80 million.
Chen Kaige's masterpiece Forever Enthralled, will also delight audiences with the story of celebrated Chinese opera singer Mei Lanfang. The production won the Best Film Award at the 2009 Golden Rooster Awards, was a Golden Bear nominee at the Berlin International Film Festival and Best Feature Film nominee at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards in Queensland last year.
The third movie is Warlords, an epic film starring well-known Chinese martial arts actor Jet Li, Andy Lau and Takeshi Kaneshiro. The film won eight awards at the 27th Hong Kong Film Awards, including Best Film, Best Director and Best Actor.
"Lastly, we have chosen a well-known, home-grown animation character McDull for our children and young-at-heart audience," Ms Wong said.
"The latest in the McDull series, McDull Kung Fu Ding Ding Kong, was partly financed by the Film Development Fund, which was set up by the Hong Kong Government to support the movie industry.
"I hope the Hong Kong Film Festival programme will be enjoyed by not only local Chinese residents but also a broad cross-section of the community who will visit Hurstville as part of the Council's Chinese New Year celebrations," she said.
Ends/Saturday, February 13, 2010
Issued at HKT 18:52
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