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     About 200 film investors, distributors, producers and filmmakers from the five major Chinese language film markets of the Mainland, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore and Malaysia gathered in Hong Kong for the first time at the Hong Kong Film New Action – Business Forums and Promotional Sessions today (March 25). They discussed making co-productions and developing markets through integrating the markets, talents and financing of the five places.

     Addressing the opening ceremony, the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mrs Rita Lau, said: “The Hong Kong SAR Government is actively promoting the creative industries and the film sector is an important pillar. We fully support the development of our film industry and attach great importance to nurturing young talent.

     “The implementation of the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) in 2003 has broadened the horizon for Hong Kong film development. Our filmmakers have since acquired rich experience in collaborating with the Mainland in joint productions. Film practitioners from all over the world are most welcome to capitalise on the experience of Hong Kong and the benefits of CEPA in opening up the film market of the Mainland,” Mrs Lau said.

     Organised by the Hong Kong Film Development Council (FDC), the business forums and promotional sessions are taking place today and tomorrow at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Members of the film industry and representatives of relevant governmental organisations from the five places have been invited to join the activity to discuss issues of concern including the opportunities arising from the CEPA, the business opportunities  in the Mainland’s film market,  new developments  in the film markets in Taiwan and Southeast Asia, as well as governmental and private film development funds in the region.

     During the event, the FDC has set up promotional booths for more than 30 Hong Kong new generation film directors to assist them to foster a basis of partnership in financing with people from different markets.

     Also speaking at the opening ceremony, the Chairman of the HKFDC, Mr Jack So, said:“Film practitioners of the five places responded favourably to the series of exchanges over the past few months. They agreed that given the trend of market integration, making joint efforts in film markets, talent and financing would be the new direction for the long-term development of Chinese language films.

     “Over the past few years, we have witnessed signs of Chinese language films regaining popularity in the region. It could be attributed to the enormous and ever-developing film market of the Mainland. With an ever-increasing interest in Chinese language films among Mainland audiences, the box-office records for Chinese language films are on the increase. What is more, the number of screens is increasing by 1.5  per day. This clearly shows that Chinese language films stand a good chance of development,” he said.

     “Hong Kong Film New Action” is a large-scale promotional project organised by the FDC in 2008-09. It aims to facilitate the long-term development of Hong Kong’s film industry by developing the film markets in the Mainland, Singapore, Malaysia and Taiwan and promoting Hong Kong’s new generation film directors to those places.

     The project was rolled out in December last year. Over the past three months, Mr So has led delegations comprising members of the FDC, prominent members of the Hong Kong film industry and new generation directors participating in the project to visit the Mainland, Taiwan, Singapore and Malaysia. During the visits, the delegations promoted Hong Kong films, particularly those produced by the new generation directors, to the buyers, distributors and producers of the four places, and explored opportunities for making collaborative film productions.

Mr Jack SO, Chairman of the Hong Kong Film Development Council, addressed the opening ceremony

Mrs Rita LAU, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, addressed the opening ceremony

The officiating guests and the new generation directors on stage

Ends/25 March 2009 (Wednesday)