FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MERRY GO ROUND SCREENING WITH SPECIAL GUEST, ACTRESS NORA MIAO

### FILM BRINGS NOSTALGIA AND BRUCE LEE’S CO-STAR NORA MIAO TO RICHMOND HILL

Toronto, February 8, 2011

On Friday March 4th 2011, the Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival (Reel Asian) proudly presents MERRY GO ROUND, an award-winning nostalgic Hong Kong drama directed by Clement Cheng and Yan Yan Mak – WINNER of the 2010 Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival Audience Award and WINNER of the Film Critics China Best Chinese-Language Film of 2010 Award. Actress Nora Miao, who starred alongside Bruce Lee in the 1970’s, will be in attendance for a Q&A and autograph session at the Reel Asian presentation of MERRY GO ROUND at the Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts on Friday, March 4, 2011, 7:00 p.m.

MERRY GO ROUND deals with the consequences of the small choices we make every day, and the regret that sometimes comes from the decisions that we make in a past life. In MERRY GO ROUND, four individuals cross paths in the streets of Hong Kong: a dying drug addict (Ella Koon), a Chinese herbal physician (Nora Miao), a guilt-ridden real estate broker (Lawrence Chou), and a grumpy coffin home caretaker ( Kwan). Chance encounters with each other lead them to rediscover old feelings long-thought buried. With breathtaking cinematography and a soundtrack played by Hong Kong indie band, Ketchup, this multi-layered love story spans 60 years of history and a lifetime of regrets.

Actress Nora Miao is a Hong Kong film star who appeared in many kung-fu films in the 1970s, playing opposite both Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee. She also appeared in all three of Bruce Lee's Hong Kong films (The Big Boss, Fist of Fury, Way of the Dragon). Nora currently lives in Toronto and hosts a Chinese radio talk show.

Actor Teddy Robin Kwan is a Hong Kong pop singer and songwriter, actor and director. He began his music career in the 1960’s, leading a band called Teddy Robin and the Playboys when Hong Kong English pop was at its peak of popularity. He later become an actor, director, producer and composer and has been nominated for several Hong Kong Film Awards for Best Original Film Song (Hong Kong Graffiti), Best Original Film Score (City on Fire), and Best Director (All the Wrong Spies).

Co-Director Clement Cheng, based in Hong Kong, is a Canadian scriptwriter and director who has directed numerous advertisements and music videos. His directorial debut was the critically acclaimed Gallants – WINNER of the New York Asian Film Festival Audience Award and OPENING NIGHT GALA at the 2010 Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival. From the age of 12, Cheng grew up in Canada and attended high school and college in Vancouver. In 1997 he went to Hong Kong in pursuit of working in the movies. Talking about how his Canadian experiences have influenced his work as a filmmaker, Cheng states: “It gave me a broader scope of the world and a liberal heart towards life and diversity, and I'm always trying to reflect these values in my works and my working environments. I love Canada—it has given me so much, and if it weren’t for movies, I would have never left. My dream is to one day make a film about my experiences as a teenager in Canada.” MERRY GO ROUND is his second feature.

Co-Director Yan Yan Mak graduated from The Academy for Performing Arts in Hong Kong 1998. From 1993, she joined the industry as assistant director, production manager, and art director and eventually established her own production company Dragonfly J Ltd. Her debut feature film, Gege, although using a very limited budget, a small crew and an all non-actors cast, received awards in numerous international film festivals. Her second feature Butterfly has been shown in more than 50 film festivals. MERRY GO ROUND is her third feature.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MERRY GO ROUND SCREENING WITH SPECIAL GUEST, ACTRESS NORA MIAO

Reel Asian will present MERRY GO ROUND: Friday, March 4, 2011 | 7:00 p.m Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts | 10268 Yonge St, Richmond Hill ON L4C 3B2 /English with English subtitles | Nora Miao in attendance; Q&A and reception to follow

Presenting Sponsor: Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office (Canada) Reception Sponsor: National Bank

Tickets: $15 regular, $12 students / seniors. Tickets available: 1) online at www.reelasian.com 2) by calling 905-787-8811 3) in-person at the Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts box office For discounted group sales (10 or more), contact [email protected] or call 416-703-9333.

Reel Asian is Canada's premier pan-Asian international film festival, showcasing contemporary film and videos from East and Southeast Asia. This year’s festival takes place Nov 8-13 in Toronto and Nov 18-19 in Richmond Hill.

For more information contact: Heather Keung, Artistic Director, [email protected] Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival 401 Richmond Street West, Suite 309 Toronto, ON M5V 3A8 T 416-703-9333 | F 416-703-9986 | www.reelasian.com

The Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the Department of Canadian Heritage, Canada Council for the Arts, Telefilm, Ontario Trillium Foundation, Ontario Media Development Corporation, Ontario Arts Council and the Toronto Arts Council. Reel Asian Charitable # 87002 1383 RR 0001 -30-