Press Release - September 12, 2006

Renowned Hong Kong film director Ann Hui's latest film, The Post-Modern Life of My Aunt, is to be featured at the "Hong Kong Film Night" at the Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF) early next month.

Miss Hui, who is also the president of the Hong Kong Film Directors' Guild, is currently visiting Toronto to promote her film for its North American premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. The Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office (HKETO) in Canada will be presenting the film at the "Hong Kong Film Night" in Vancouver on October 3.

After its exposure in Toronto, the "The Post-Modern Life of My Aunt", starring Chow Yun-Fat, Siqin Gaowa, Lisa Lu, Shi Ke and Vicky Zhao Wei, will be shown at the Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF) on September 29, October 3, 4 and October 5.

The HKETO Director, Mr Bassanio So, today (Tuesday) met with Hui in Toronto and briefed her on the film-related activities organised by the HKETO in Canada, including featuring Hong Kong films at different film festivals in major Canadian cities such as Vancouver, Toronto, Calgary and Montreal, and organising film seminars for people in the film industry, and for university students who are interested in film-making.

They exchanged views on the challenges being faced by the film industry internationally. Miss Hui said the major concern of Hong Kong's film industry is to expand its international distribution network, so that investors could get back the money they invested. Both Miss Hui and Mr So agreed that co-productions between Hong Kong and Canada should be encouraged, making use of Hong Kong's talented film directors, its post-production facilities, and its proximity to China for location shooting.

"Taking part in international film festivals is a good way to promote Hong Kong films," said Mr So. The Toronto International Film Festival is one of the largest in North America. For the VIFF, it is expected to attract more than 150,000 people to 550 screenings of over 300 films from 50 countries. Other Hong Kong films to be featured at the VIFF include Karmic Mahjong directed by Wang Guangli with Francis Ng playing a leading role.

Film critics, media members, people from Vancouver's film industry and business community, etc, will be invited to the VIFF "Hong Kong Film Night" at Vancouver International Film Centre (1181 Seymour Street) on October 3. The pre-show reception will start at 5.30pm with the screening of "The Post-Modern Life of My Aunt" at 6.30pm. A photo exhibition entitled "The Sparkling Stars of Hong Kong in the Last 30 Years", jointly organised by the VIFF and Ming Pao Daily, will be displayed at the Hong Kong Film Night.

For more information about VIFF and ticket sales visit: http://www.viff.org/boindex.html

For more information, please contact: Stephen Siu, Assistant Director (Public Relations) of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office at: (416)924-5544 (Ext. 224) or email: [email protected] or Elison Chu, Senior Information Officer at (416)924-5544 (Ext. 283),or email: [email protected]

Internationally renowned Hong Kong film director Ann Hui, currently in Toronto to promote her recent production, "The Post-Modern Life of My Aunt", chats with the Director of the Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office in Canada, Mr Bassanio So, today (Tuesday) about various ways to promote Hong Kong films overseas.

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