Press Release - October 2, 2004

Filmmakers in Calgary were encouraged to explore the emerging opportunities in co-producing movies with Hong Kong, capitalizing on the preferential treatment offered by CEPA (Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement) for the China market, and making use of Hong Kong�s talented people.

Speaking today (Saturday) at a film seminar presented by the 5th Calgary International Film Festival (CIFF) at Calgary�s Sheraton Hotel, Mr. Bassanio So, Director of the Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office (Canada) (HKETO), discussed with a group of filmmakers and people from the film and television industry about the practical issues pertaining to co-production of films, and the strength of Hong Kong as a film marketing and distribution centre.

Eight Hong Kong films were being featured at the �Spotlight on Hong Kong� series of this year�s CIFF between September 24 and October 3. They included �The Floating Landscape�, �Running on Karma�, �Magic Kitchen�, �Golden Chicken 2�, �Lost in Time�, �Heroic Duo�, �20:30:40� and �Elixir of Love�.

CIFF has become one of North America�s most innovative showcases for Canadian and international movies since its introduction five years ago. Mr. So said Hong Kong was proud to be a contributing partner of CIFF. �Apart from prominently featuring eight outstanding Hong Kong films among 300 international and Canadian productions, this year�s festival also provides an excellent opportunity for us to examine how Canadian film and television producers can leverage on Hong Kong to embark onto the growing markets of Mainland China and the rest of Asia.�

Mr. So told the seminar that Hong Kong, being one of the world�s largest film exporters after India, the United States and Japan, had captured a significant share in the film markets of Southeast Asia, Taiwan and South Korea. A total of 92 local films were released in Hong Kong in 2002, and even during the SARS outbreak last year 77 were released. The Federation of Hong Kong Film Workers expects that the total number of films to be produced in 2004 would increase by 30% to 40%, and more than half of them would be co-productions.

Hong Kong�s film industry has a long history of co-production with overseas companies. Co-production with Mainland China has been popular since the 1980s to take advantage of lower production costs and a wider variety of shooting locations.

�Many foreign studios use Hong Kong as a production co-ordination base for the Greater China region, handling talent recruitment, scripting, financing and overall planning, as well as providing technical support, editing and dubbing services for overseas crews on location shooting in Hong Kong,� Mr So said.

�The success stories such as �Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon� and the recent Hong Kong-China co-production �Hero� etc. have proved that Hong Kong has a pool of talented people in the film industry�, said Mr. So. In 2003, there were over 1,200 film-related establishments in Hong Kong, employing some 6,000 people.

According to the HKETO Director, the trade liberalization under CEPA has opened up new opportunities for the film industry. Preferential treatment has been given to the distribution of audio-visual products from Hong Kong to China, as well as the construction and renovation of cinemas, distribution of TV programs, and the operation of cable television networks by Hong Kong companies in China.

�Although CEPA is a free-trade agreement between Hong Kong and Mainland China, overseas companies, including Canadian companies, can benefit from it,� Mr. So said. To benefit from CEPA, Canadian filmmakers can collaborate with their Hong Kong counterparts in joint ventures, to satisfy the requirement that Hong Kong companies should have 75% of the copyright of the motion pictures produced. Furthermore, Canadian companies can inject capital to become a shareholder of an existing service supplier in Hong Kong in order to enjoy CEPA�s preferential treatment.

Mr. So also invited representatives from Canada�s film industry to take part in the Hong Kong International Film and TV market (FILMART), one of the most important film industry events in Asia, in March 2005. The annual event brings together producers, distributors, suppliers and buyers from all over the world, reinforcing Hong Kong�s position as a film distribution centre in Asia. Last year, about 300 exhibitors and 2,000 buyers from 40 countries joined the event.

Hong Kong film director Ms Carol Lai, who specially flew to Calgary to promote Hong Kong�s film industry and her production �The Floating Landscape�, one of the Hong Kong films featured at the CIFF, was one of the speakers at the seminar. The award-winning director shared with the audience her professional views on Hong Kong-Canada and Hong Kong-China co-productions. She also provided a practical �Go East� guide for the Canadian film professionals to venture into the huge China market.

Johnnie To Kei-fung�s �Running on Karma� was shown this evening at Uptown I cinema as the finale of the �Spotlight on Hong Kong� series. About 400 guests and movie goers attended at the Hong Kong Gala Reception after the movie at the Chicago Chop House in Calgary.

�Spotlight on Hong Kong� was organized with the support of the Fairchild Media Group, Long Shong Group, Applause Pictures Ltd., Universe Entertainment Ltd., Sil-Metropole Organisation Ltd., Filmko Film Distribution (HK) Ltd., and Columbia Pictures Films Productions, and Columbia Tristar Film Distribution International.

The event is fully support by CHKF, FM 94.7, Sing Tao Daily and Trend Weekly as its media sponsors.


For further information, please contact: John Tam, Chief Information Officer, Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Canada) at: (416) 924-5544 or e-mail: [email protected] / Miss Elison Chu, Senior Information Officer, at: [email protected].

Picture shows HKETO Director Mr Bassanio So (standing) giving a presentation on "A Snapshot of Hong Kong's Film Industry" at the "Hong Kong-Canada Co-Production" seminar organized by the Calgary International Film Festival. Sitting next to him is Ms Carol Lai, the film director of "The Floating Landscape".

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