Following are the welcome remarks by the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Kevin Yeung, at the Hong Kong Night reception in the 77th Cannes Film Festival yesterday (May 16, Cannes time):

 

     Hello, everyone! Welcome to our Hong Kong Night reception. It’s my great pleasure to meet all of you here in Cannes.

 

     The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region has been actively promoting arts and culture. Since 2005, the Government has been injecting about HK$3 billion into our Film Development Fund, a fund designated to support our film industry.

 

     We treasure our overseas partners and have strengthened our participation in international film festivals to extend our market coverage and enhance exchanges. By leading delegations of some of the most exceptional and emerging directors, producers and actors from Hong Kong, like those attending here tonight, we hope to increase the exposure of Hong Kong cinema in a proactive approach, fostering more cultural exchanges among film talents across national borders and various cultures.

 

     To reinforce Hong Kong as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange, we launched the Hong Kong-Asian Film Collaboration Funding Scheme last year to support collaboration between the film industries of Hong Kong and Asian countries. The response was overwhelming. We hence extended the funding scheme to cover Europe as the Hong Kong-Europe-Asian Film Collaboration Funding Scheme, to welcome projects from Europe and Asia.

 

     Most important of all, we are thrilled to see many Chinese language films selected in Cannes this year. Hong Kong film, “Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In”, is chosen for the Midnight Screenings section, and will be screened right after this reception. We are honoured to have the director and cast joining us tonight. With the strong tradition of Hong Kong cinema, a 4K restoration of “Shanghai Blues”, directed by esteemed filmmaker Tsui Hark, is selected for Cannes Classics section. Renowned Hong Kong director Peter Chan’s mainland production “She’s Got No Name” will be presented under Out Of Competition section towards the end of the Festival. 

 

     Last but not least, tonight, we are not just celebrating Hong Kong cinema, but also aiming to forge new connections among all of us at this world’s most prestigious film event. So let us enjoy the party. Thank you.

Ends/Friday, May 17, 2024

Issued at HKT 10:00

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