The Hong Kong International Film Festival Society (HKIFFS) announced Miriam YEUNG as the ambassador of the 35th Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF); and Don’t Go Breaking My Heart, by the Hong Kong film industry’s duo of Johnnie TO and WAI Ka-fai; and Quattro Hong Kong 2, jointly directed by four award-winning filmmakers as the two opening films of this year.
In Don’t Go Breaking My Heart Louis KOO plays a high-flying playboy who has set his sights on a beautiful executive, GAO Yuanyuan. But GAO is looking for a husband and meets Daniel WU, a talented yet depressed architect. With a pretty cast and clever twists, this romantic comedy reveals the complicated yet passionate relationships of present day urbanites.
For Quattro Hong Kong 2, HKIFFS invited celebrated Southeast Asian directors to make individual short films in Hong Kong. Thailand’s Apichatpong WEERASETHAKUL, the recent Cannes Golden Palm winner for Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives shot his episode M Hotel in Yau Ma Tei; Philippines director Brillante MENDOZA, awarded Best Director at Cannes for 2009’s Kinatay based his segment Purple on Hong Kong’s Bauhinia flower and shot in Tai O and the city’s famed flower market; HO Yuhang from Malaysia worked with award winning WAI Ying-hung to make the comedy Open Verdict. Hong Kong is represented by one of the territory’s most prominent filmmakers, Stanley KWAN, whose works such as 1988’s Rouge and 1992’s Centre Stage are considered Chinese-language classics. Kwan’s 13 Minutes in the Lives of… stars Gordon LAM and was shot on the return bus journey after viewing the computer animated scroll of Along the River During the Qingming Festival.
To celebrate the 20th anniversary of Fortissimo Films, HKIFF will present a small retrospective of some of their most well-known titles, in recognition of its works in helping to promote Asian films as well as producing and funding cutting-edge titles around the world.
Three hundred plus films from over 56 countries will be screened at 12 venues in Hong Kong, of which 59 are world, international or Asian premieres at the the 35th HKIFF which runs from 20 March to 5 April, 2011.
Related posts:
