Press Release - November 26, 2003

By presenting the “1:99 Short Film Series” to the Toronto community, the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Canada) (HKETO) is spreading the “Relaunch Hong Kong” message that Hong Kong has returned to normal and emerged better, stronger and healthier after the SARS challenge earlier this year.

This was the message conveyed by Mr. Bassanio So, the HKETO Director at the opening of the 7th Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival this evening (November 26). The film festival features Hong Kong’s “1:99 Short Film Series” in all its film programmes throughout the festival period, which will end on November 30.

Comprising eleven shorts produced by some of Hong Kong’s most outstanding and well-recognized directors including Peter Chan, Fruit Chan, Johnnie To and Tsui Hak, the short film series is part of the HKSAR Government’s efforts to spread the message that Hong Kong is rebouncing well after SARS.

“The “1:99 Short Film Series” was produced to boost the spirit of Hong Kong people in the battle against SARS and demonstrate Hong Kong’s resilience and ‘never give-up’ spirit. We wish to share this spirit with our Toronto friends who have been our allies in the global fight against SARS,” Mr. So said.

In addition, the HKETO is also staging a photo exhibition throughout the festival period to promote the short film series as part of the “Relaunch Hong Kong” activities and co-presenting with Reel Asian a film seminar ntitled “Hong Kong: Gateway to China’s 1.3 Billion Audience” tomorrow (November 27) at 5:00 p.m. at the HKETO (174 St. George Street, Toronto).

Introducing the film seminar, Mr. So said: “It is designed to better inform the Canadian film industry about the ‘Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement’ (CEPA) recently signed between Hong Kong and Mainland China and to discuss ways for Canadian companies to access the huge China market through co-productions with Hong Kong film companies to capitalize on CEPA.”

The eleven short films to be shown at the 7th Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival are: "Rhapsody" (by Johnnie To, Wai Ka-fai), "My Piglet is not feeling well" (by Fruit Chan), "Always look on the bright side" (by Teddy Chen), "Believe it or not" (by Tsui Hark), "Hong Kong -- A Winner" (by Stephen Chow), "Who is Miss Hong Kong?" (by Joe Ma), “My Flying Family"(by Mabel Cheung, Alex Law), "Until Then" (by Dante Lam, Gordon Chan), "Memories of Spring 2003" (by Peter Chan), "A Glorious Future" (by Andrew Lau, Alan Mak) and "Mudull 1:99" (by Brian Tse).

Screenings of the Film Festival are held at the Bloor Cinema, the Royal Cinema,
Innis College at the University of Toronto and the National Film Board Mediatheque.

Tickets of the 7th Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival are available 30 minutes before each screening. Advance tickets are available from November 10 at Pages bookstores and the Reel Asian office (401 Richmond Street West, Studio 361, Toronto. Tel: 416-703-9333). For more information on the Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival, please visit: www.reelasian.com, or contact [email protected].



For information on the “1:99 Short Film Series”, please contact John Tam, Chief
Information Officer of HKETO, at (416)924-5544 or email [email protected] or Elison Chu, Senior Information Officer, email: [email protected]