Press Release - September 14, 2004

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Canada) (HKETO) and the Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Toronto (CCC), will jointly present a Hong Kong Film Festival in early October in Toronto to showcase a series of eight of the best films recently directed by renowned Hong Kong directors.

With the full support of the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM), the Hong Kong Film Festival (HKFF) aims to introduce to Canadian audience some of the best productions of talented film directors in Hong Kong and to promote the understanding and appreciation of the Hong Kong films to the local community.

Announcing details of the film festival at a press conference today (September 14), the Director of the HKETO, Mr. Bassanio So, said: �As one of the world�s major film production centres and the regional hub for film trading and service, Hong Kong is well-positioned to establish itself as �Asia�s Hollywood�.

�We hope that by bringing these high-quality productions by such renowned Hong Kong directors as Johnnie To, Sylvia Chang, Carol Lai, Derek Yee, which have not been commercially released in North America, the Hong Kong Film Festival will give our Canadian friends a better understanding and appreciation of our film professionals whose talents enjoy worldwide recognition,� he added.

As part of the HKFF, a seminar on Hong Kong-Canada co-production will be held to examine how Canadian film makers and movie companies can make use of Hong Kong to explore the vast Asian market, especially the China market, at 11:00 am on October 5 at ROM. The HKETO Director, Bassanio So, will join other panel speakers from Goodmans LLP and Hong Kong Trade Development Council to examine the advantages of co-production with Hong Kong; the practical issues pertaining to such co-productions; and the strengths of Hong Kong as a film marketing and distribution centre. All interested are welcomed.


Mr So announced that the film festival would be held from October 2 to October 8 with �Running on Karma� by Johnnie To as the Opening Film on October 4. The other films to be shown at the HKFF are: �The Floating Landscape� by Carol Lai, �Magic Kitchen� by Lee Chi-ngai, �Golden Chicken 2� by Samson Chiu, �Lost in Time� by Derek Yee , �Heroic Duo� by Benny Chan, �Elixir of Love� by Riley Yip and �20,30,40� by Sylvia Chang.

Also present at today�s press conference were the Vice Chair of the CCC, Mr Hughes Eng, and representatives of the HKFF�s sponsors and supporters.

Tickets are available at the ROM Box Office and the CCC from tomorrow (September 15) at $6.50 each for adult and $5.00 each for senior, student, ROM member and group of 10 or more. Proceeds of the event will be donated to CCC for its Phase II Development.

The Hong Kong Film Festival is supported by Tour East (Holiday) as special sponsor, and Pacific Insurance Brokers Inc., RBC Financial Group, Living Realty Inc. and Downtown FineCars Group as silver screen sponsors. Fairchild Media Group, Ming Pao and World Journal support the event as media sponsors.

The Hong Kong Film Festival is organized with the courtesy of Long Shong Group, Applause Pictures Ltd., Universe Entertainment Ltd & Sil-Metropole Organization Ltd, Filmko Film Distribution (HK) Ltd., and Columbia Pictures Film Productions & Columbia Tristar Film Distribution International.



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