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The first Hong Kong Film Festival in Thailand was officially launched at a gala premiere held in Bangkok this evening (April 26).
The event, which opens with "A Simple Life" and features 10 internationally recognised Hong Kong movies in total, has been organised by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) in Singapore.
Speaking at the gala premiere, the Financial Secretary, Mr John C Tsang, said that Hong Kong's film industry is "big business".
He added, "As home to more than nine million Chinese, which is more than the entire population of Hong Kong, Thailand offers huge opportunities for our city's film productions. Bangkok, with its own proud cinematic history, is also a prime location for exchange and information-sharing in the field of film art.
"This is why we are organising the first Hong Kong Film Festival here in Bangkok," he said.
Over the years, Hong Kong films have gained worldwide acclaim. Outstanding performances by Hong Kong actors, directors, cinematographers and producers have been rewarded with over 300 international awards in the past decade.
"To showcase our latest achievements, we have prepared a line-up of 10 award-winning Hong Kong movies," Mr Tsang said.
The opening movie, "A Simple Life", has scooped coveted awards at regional and international film festivals, including the Venice Film Festival, Taipei's Golden Horse Awards and the Hong Kong Film Awards held earlier this month.
In recent years, Hong Kong's film industry has broadened its horizons through closer collaboration with its counterparts in Mainland China. The Closer Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) has vastly expanded access to the Mainland's movie market.
"I encourage Thai film companies to use Hong Kong as the gateway to tap the growing business opportunities in the Mainland. Through Hong Kong you can take advantage of CEPA to expand into the growing Mainland market," Mr Tsang said.
The gala premiere attracted some 300 government officials and representatives from trade associations and the film industry. Also officiating at today's gala premiere were the Director of the HKETO in Singapore, Mr Fong Ngai; Vice Minister of Tourism and Sports of the Government of Thailand, Mr Sombat Kuruphan; and Chinese Ambassador to Thailand, Mr Guan Mu. It is also one of the major events organised by HKETO in Singapore to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
The Hong Kong Film Festival in Thailand will be held from tomorrow (April 27) to Monday (April 30) at the SF World Cinema, Bangkok. The 10 selected movies are: "A Simple Life", "The Beast Stalker", "Soundless Wind Chime", "Accident", "At the End of Daybreak", "Night and Fog", "Echoes of the Rainbow", "Break Up Club", "Lover's Discourse" and "Quattro Hong Kong I and II".
Ends/Thursday, April 26, 2012
Issued at HKT 20:50
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