Full Festival Line up Announced
Hong Kong 15 Film Festival announces its much anticipated programme to mark the 15th Anniversary of the return of Hong Kong to Chinese sovereignty
1st July marks fifteen years since Hong Kong returned to Chinese sovereignty. To commemorate this special occasion, the Hong Kong Economic Trade Office, London, in association with Terracotta Festival, has put together an exciting film festival to showcase the best of current Hong Kong films as well as to look back on the last fifteen years and beyond.
The Hong Kong 15 Film Festival will take place at the Odeon Covent Garden, London, commencing 2nd July 2012 for a fortnight until 14th July. With guests in attendance and fifteen films carefully selected, the festival will pay tribute to the extraordinary story of this vibrant and energetic island city through the eyes of its film-makers.
The diversity of Hong Kong cinema will be represented through a panorama of films divided in three sections: ‘Currents’, ’15 Years Review’ and ‘Shaw Brothers Classics’.
The Festival will open with multi-award-winning drama, A Simple Life by acclaimed director Ann Hui, starring Hong Kong star Andy Lau and a comeback performance from the highly decorated Deanie Ip who won the Best Actress at the 68th Venice International Film Festival. The event will be attended by Roger Lee, the producer and writer whose life story the film is based on.
Other highlights of the ‘Currents’ section include Life Without Principle by prolific filmmaker Johnnie To and The Bounty by Fung Chi Chiang.
Made in Hong Kong, directed by Fruit Chan, is a groundbreaking film which found great local and international acclaim for its release 15 years ago. It remains an uncommon Hong Kong example of a true independent film and will open the ‘15 Year Review’section to lead the way for other highly influential contemporary Hong Kong directors such as Pang Ho Cheung, Andrew Lau and Alan Mak.
The Hong Kong 15 Film Festival wouldn’t even exist if it wasn’t for the legendary Shaw Brothers Studios and, as an homage to the most significant film production company in the history of Hong Kong Cinema, festival goers will be able to indulge in two martial arts masterpieces on the big screen: 1967 blockbuster One Armed Swordsman and one of the greatest Kung Fu film, The 36th Chamber of Shaolin (1978).
Talent attending the event will travel courtesy of Sponsor-in-Kind, Cathay Pacific, Hong Kong’s flagship carrier.
Other cultural tributes for the occasion will take place such as the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival on Sunday 1st July in London and the screening of Big Blue Lake at the Cornerhouse in Manchester on Friday 6th July.
Visit the festival website for regular Festival updates and ticket information:
http://hk15filmfestival.com/
‘Hong Kong 15 Film Festival’ full programme:
CURRENTS:
A Simple Life – by Ann Hui
Big Blue Lake – by Jessey Tsang Tsui-Shan
White Vengeance – by Daniel Lee
Life Without Principle – by Johnnie To
The Bounty – by Fung Chi Chiang
The Detective 2 – by Oxide Pang
East Meets West 2011 – by Jeffrey Lau
Wu Xia – by Peter Chan
15 YEARS REVIEW
Made In Hong Kong – by Fruit Chan
When Beckham Met Owen – by Adam Wong
Infernal Affairs – by Andrew Lau and Alan Mak
Sparrow – by Johnnie To
Dream Home – by Pang Ho-cheung
SHAW BROTHERS CLASSIC
The 36th Chamber of Shaolin – by Liu Chia-Liang
One Armed Swordsman – by Chang Cheh
For further information please contact:
Claire Marty, Terracotta Press Officer Tel: +44 (0)779284 5887, claire@terracottadistribution.com
Alasdair Crewe or Jennifer Tin, Press Office, Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, London Tel : +44-(0)20-7290-8217
Email: alasdair_crewe@hketolondon.gov.hk, jennifer_tin@hketolondon.gov.hk
Note to Editors:
About The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, London
The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in London is responsible for fostering cultural and economic relations with the UK, Russia, Scandinavia and the Baltic states. Based in London, this Office promotes bilateral trade; updates the business communities and other organisations on developments in Hong Kong; organises official visits, seminars and cultural and artistic events and activities. (www.hketolondon.gov.hk)
About Terracotta Festival
Committed to bringing quality and entertaining Far East films to the UK.
The Terracotta Far East Film Festival is an annual event aiming to widen the audience for Far Eastern film in the UK and to further promote this genre to existing film fans.
With a stunning line-up of films hand-picked from the best of the region, encompassing diverse genres from comedy to drama to horror and everything in between, exclusive cast and crew Q&As, intro’s, masterclasses and parties. (www.TerracottaFestival.com)
Releases by Terracotta Distribution include the multi-award winning Breathless directed by Yang Ik-june, Johnnie To’s Sparrow and most recently Arirang by Kim Ki-duk. (www.TerracottaDistribution.com)
About ODEON Covent Garden
135 Shaftesbury Avenue
London WC2H 8AH
