Press Release

Hong Kong Focus at the 7th Five Flavours Film Festival in Warsaw

The Economic and Trade Office, Berlin (HKETO Berlin) Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Berlin presents the Hong Kong focus of the 7th Five Flavours Film Festival in Address: Warsaw from 4 to 11 November. More than 250 guests from the Jägerstraße 33, 10117, Berlin government, cultural and business sectors attended yesterday’s opening Telephone: +49 (0) 30 22 66 77 242 event in Kino Muranów. The opening film, A Simple Life, a real-life story Fax: and award-winning drama directed by the renowned Hong Kong director +49 (0) 30 22 66 77 288 and starring Hong Kong movie star , delighted the E-mail: audience and was followed by a post-screening reception. [email protected]

Website: www.hketoberlin.gov.hk In co-operation with Arteria Art Foundation, the Hong Kong focus features blockbusters like A Simple Life, Johnnie To's latest gritty thriller Drug War and Wong Kar-wai’s spectacular martial arts epic The Grandmaster, as well as 10 inspiring independent productions. In 2012, 16 Hong Kong movies won international awards and The Grandmaster was selected as the opening movie at the 63rd Berlin International Film Festival 2013.

Hong Kong has more than a century’s history in film-making and has one of the largest and most dynamic film entertainment industries in the world. In recent years, the local film industry has diversified and broken fresh ground. Hong Kong’s films, film talents and professionals have gained increasing recognition from the international film industry over the years. In his welcome remarks, the Director of HKETO Berlin, Ivan K B Lee, encouraged Polish film production companies and filmmakers to take advantage of the unique opportunities in Hong Kong: “We welcome creative talents of both East and West. I encourage Polish companies, not least those of you in the creative industries, to use Hong Kong as the super- connector between China and the rest of the world.”

Mr. Lee further emphasised the importance of the strengthening collaboration between Hong Kong’s film industry and Mainland China’s film studios: “With our vibrant cultural scene, Hong Kong has laid a strong foundation for a thriving creative industry. Through CEPA, our trade agreement with Mainland China, Hong Kong’s access to the Mainland’s movie market is widening and collaboration between Hong Kong and Mainland China’s film studios is intensifying.” While benefiting from Mainland China’s financial and location resources, Hong Kong could offer technical know-how, great actors and not least its international outlook. Hong Kong also regularly hosts important film-related events such as the Hong Kong International Film Festival and the Hong Kong International Film & TV Market. They are usually held in March/April every year.

HKETO Berlin will host its own Hong Kong Film Festival in Berlin from 14 to 17 November and will support the Hong Kong focus of the filmasia in Prague (28 November – 1 December) this year.

Link to the Warsaw programme: http://www.piecsmakow.pl/lista.do?idc=2

About Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Berlin

HKETO Berlin is the official HKSAR Government representative in commercial relations and other economic and trade matters in Poland, as well as Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia and Switzerland.

Photo Captions

1. Mr Lee giving the welcome remarks

2. From the left: Ambassador Marjan Šetinc (Ambassador of Slovenia to Poland), Mr Lee, Ambassador Xu Jian (Chinese Ambassador to Poland) at the opening of the 7th Five Flavours Film Festival in Warsaw

Contact

Kilian Becker Head of Public Relations Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Berlin Tel: +49 (0) 30 22 66 77 24 2 Fax: +49 (0)30 22 66 77 28 8 E-mail: [email protected]

HKETO Berlin 5 November 2013

- 2 -