The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels (HKETO, Brussels) held with the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) a Hong Kong Film Night on 21 October in Amsterdam, the Netherlands (Amsterdam time). Participants enjoyed a networking reception and the screening of the Hong Kong movie "Band Four", directed by young Hong Kong director Lai Yan-chi, in this film event.

     Opening the event, Deputy Representative of HKETO, Brussels, Miss Fiona Li, outlined the vision to provide more exposure and opportunities for emerging filmmakers and other artists from Hong Kong in Europe. She said that this film event with the HKTDC was a targeted attempt "to create our platform to showcase Hong Kong productions, and to arouse more interests in our young filmmakers and accomplished talent among the local arts, cultural and creative sectors in Europe, hence offering both sides more opportunities for possible collaboration". 

     Miss Li elaborated that through arts and culture, Hong Kong's advantages and soft power are better seen in Europe. The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region strives to elevate Hong Kong's arts and creative industries to the international stage and to present Hong Kong talent globally, fostering the development of Hong Kong into an international cultural exchange centre.    

     For the film industry, the Government provides financial support to help promising Hong Kong filmmakers gain international visibility and to encourage international co-operation. One of the recent measures is the launch of the Hong Kong-Europe-Asian Film Collaboration Funding Scheme under the Film Development Fund, which supports eligible film projects co-produced by filmmakers from European or Asian countries that feature Hong Kong, European and Asian cultures.

Ends/Wednesday, October 23, 2024
Issued at HKT 2:40

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