Press Release

Hong Kong films showcased at Vienna International Film Festival

For the second consecutive year, the Economic and Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Berlin Trade Office, Berlin (HKETO Berlin) sponsors the Vienna International Address: Film Festival (Viennale). From October 20 to November 2, Austria’s most Jaegerstrasse 33, 10117 Berlin important international film event presents around 300 films to more than Telephone: +49 (0) 30 22 66 77 242 94,000 visitors including the two Hong Kong productions “” and “Te Gong Ye Ye”. Fax: +49 (0) 30 22 66 77 288

th E-mail: For the 54 time, the Viennale showcases a sophisticated mix of [email protected] local and international debut features as well as artful veteran cinema, Website: www.hketoberlin.gov.hk mirrored by the two Hong Kong films dedicated by HKETO Berlin. The 2016 action crime thriller “Trivisa” produced by and Yau Nai- hoi, featuring the directorial debuts of newcomers Frank Hui, Jevons Au and Wai-Kit, tells the story of three Hong Kong mobsters struggling with the structural changes during Hong Kong’s return to China in 1997. The action drama “Te Gong Ye Ye”, directing and starring martial arts legend , is about a retired bodyguard who is forced back into action when a young girl is kidnapped.

During her speech at the Viennale Industry Cocktail on October 28 at the Intercontinental Hotel Vienna, HKETO Berlin’s Director Betty Ho highlighted the long history of Hong Kong cinema: “The history of film- making in Hong Kong began more than a century ago. Known as the ‘Hollywood of the East’, Hong Kong has one of the largest and most dynamic film entertainment industries in the world. Our movies, especially our unique action cinema genre, have also been inspirational to many outside Hong Kong.”

Additionally, Ms Ho underlined the unique opportunities Hong Kong offered to filmmakers as well as production companies. “Under ‘One Country, Two Systems’, Hong Kong acts as the ‘super connector’ between China and the rest of the world. Overseas film companies incorporated in Hong Kong can take advantage of our unique free trade agreement with Mainland China, the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement, or CEPA, in entering the huge Mainland China market,” she said.

Apart from continuing its cooperation with Viennale, HKETO Berlin also builds on partnerships with three other European top festivals, namely Munich International Film Festival (Filmfest München) in June, Zurich Film Festival in late September and early October, and Five Flavours Film Festival in Warsaw in November, to showcase a wide selection of Hong Kong feature and short films.

About Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Berlin

HKETO Berlin is the official Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government representative in commercial relations and other economic and trade matters in Austria, Germany, Poland, Switzerland as well as Czechia, Hungary, Slovakia and Slovenia.

Photo Caption

1. Betty Ho (right) speaking at the Viennale Industry Cocktail. On the left: Viennale’s Director Mr Hans Hurch.

Contact

Kilian Becker Head, 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 31 October 2016

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