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The Hong Kong Film Panorama opened today (January 11, Portuguese time) in Lisbon. This is the third time that some of Hong KongĄ¯s latest films have been brought to PortugalĄ¯s capital by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels and its co-organiser, Zero de Comportamento.
Seven Hong Kong films produced in 2010 will be screened at the City Classic Alvalade Cinema in Lisbon between January 11 and 15. These are Ms Barbara Wong's "Break Up Club", Mr Chan Hing-kai and Ms Janet Chun's "La Comedie Humaine", Ms Ivy Ho's "Crossing Hennessy", Mr Alex Law's "Echoes of the Rainbow", Mr Derek Kwok and Mr Clement Cheng's "Gallants", Mr Freddie Wong's "The Drunkard" and Mr Ann Hui's "All About Love".
Addressing the guests at the opening reception of the film festival, Special Representative for Hong Kong Economic and Trade Affairs to the European Union, Miss Mary Chow, said films were very close to the hearts of Hong Kong people and it was a particular delight to let others share our enthusiasm.
She noted that there had been good progress in the development of Hong Kong's film industry over the past decade. Film and other creative industries comprise one of the six new economic sectors that Hong Kong has been trying to promote. With the Government's efforts to nurture creativity generally and to promote the industry by assisting small to medium budget movies through the Film Development Fund, Hong Kong films were receiving increasing international recognition.
"To quote a few examples, Mr John Woo was presented with a lifetime achievement award at the International Film Festival in Venice in September 2010. And last September, a Hong Kong actress, Ms Deanie Ip, won the Best Actress Award at the 68th Venice International Film Festival. She plays a leading role in 'A Simple Life', a Hong Kong film directed by Ms Ann Hui, one of our best film directors," said Miss Chow.
Two films to be shown in the Panorama also received international awards, she said. "Mr Alex Law's Echoes of the Rainbow also won a very well-deserved Crystal Bear for the Best Feature Film in the Generation section of the 60th Berlinale 2010, and the leading actress in Ms Anne Hui's All About Love, Ms Sandra Ng, won the best actress award in the 9th Asian Film Festival held in Reggio Emilia in Italy last year.
"Beyond sponsorship, the Government also ensures that the right environment is in place for creative industries to flourish. The success of our film industry has a lot to do with freedom of speech and the free flow of information, ideas and talent, which represent key elements of our cherished values in Hong Kong and are guaranteed by our constitutional document, the Basic Law," she added.
The Hong Kong Film Panorama is an annual festival organised by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels in different European cities. Lisbon is the fourth stop on the European tour for the 2011-12 edition of the film festival, following Brussels and Antwerp in Belgium, and Amsterdam in the Netherlands.
Ends/Thursday, January 12, 2012
Issued at HKT 06:00
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