Signature events to boost development of creative industries
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     The Government will continue to support the staging of more signature creative events to further drive the development of creative industries and consolidate Hong Kong's status as Asia's creative capital, the Head of Create Hong Kong (CreateHK), Mr Jerry Liu, said today (December 22).

     "Signature events provide a platform for local creative talent to share experience with their overseas counterparts. It is also a chance to showcase the excellence of Hong Kong creativity and raise the profile of our creative sector for tapping overseas markets," Mr Liu said at a press briefing today.

     "The industry is going to organise various signature events in the coming year. We are glad to note their positive response. CreateHK will provide funding support through the CreateSmart Initiative to these events," Mr Liu said, adding that these events include the Asia Rainbow TV Awards organised by the Hong Kong Televisioners Association and the Hong Kong Asian Pop Music Festival organised by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (Hong Kong Group).

     The Asia Rainbow TV Awards will be held on March 22, 2011 - the first award-giving ceremony organised in Hong Kong recognising outstanding televisioners and TV productions in Asia. The event will also help to build a networking platform for the TV industry in the region.

     The Hong Kong Asian Pop Music Festival, to be staged on March 23, 2011, features performances by top pop artistes from seven Asian countries and places, and an "Asia's Next Supernova" friendly music competition for emerging artistes. To showcase Hong Kong's ability in producing world class shows, the organiser will invite Hong Kong's leading concert producers to take part in the production of the festival to make it a music extravaganza.

     "Apart from participation by the industry and the local public, these two events will also be broadcast as TV programmes in other Asian countries and places, reaching an audience of tens of millions," Mr Liu said.

     "We will continue to maintain close contact with the creative sectors and support the organisation of signature events in different creative fields," he continued.

     Other signatures events supported by CreateHK to be staged in 2011 include: MaD youth forum; "Hong Kong: Creative Ecologies - Business, Living, Creativity" Exhibition; the 35th Hong Kong International Film Festival; Entertainment Expo Hong Kong 2011; a response exhibition of the Hong Kong pavilion at the 12th Venice Biennale International Architecture Exhibition; Hong Kong's first Asia Online Game Awards; and "SIGGRAPH Asia", the largest exhibition and seminar event on computer graphics and interactive technology ever hosted by Hong Kong.

Ends/Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Issued at HKT 17:43

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