11 Hong Kong movies featured at New York film festival

At the press event to launch the Hong Kong film series of the New York Asian Film Festival on June 11 are (from right): Deputy Director (Media and Public Relations) of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, New York Kelly So; Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, New York Monica Chen; Hong Kong film director Mak Hei-Yan and the directors of the New York Asian Film Festival, Grady Hendrix and Goran Topalovic.

Hong Kong films feature prominently in the 8th New York Asian Film Festival, now under way. Eleven films, five of which are productions by directors participating in the Hong Kong Film: New Action program, have joined 40 others from Asia to compete for two awards: the Grand Jury Award and the Audience Award.         

The Hong Kong series was presented June 11 to an audience of more than 100 journalists, film critics and film personnel by Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, New York Director Monica Chen.

“The films are the productions of our next generation of filmmakers,” she said. “These filmmakers are all gifted individuals; they possess the flair, the vitality and the vision to continue the robust development of our creative film industry.”

Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, New York Monica Chen addresses the audience at the launch of the Hong Kong film series.

The presentation featured the premiere of “High Noon,” directed by Mak Hei-yan. Ms. Mak flew from Hong Kong to attend the New York City event and hosted a question-and-answer  session after the screening.

At age 24, Ms. Mak is the youngest of the Hong Kong directors. She already has received a Best New Director nomination at the 28th Hong Kong Film Awards.

Ms. Chen noted that the Hong Kong government has always supported its creative industries. A dedicated agency, Create Hong Kong, was established June 1 to promote Hong Kong as Asia’s creative hub and to facilitate start-ups and to nurture a pool of creative human capital.

The agency manages the Film Services Office, the Film Development Fund and the Film Guarantee Fund. These three offices support film productions in Hong Kong, promote its films locally and overseas and provide financial support for industry projects, including film productions.

Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, New York Monica Chen introduces director Mak Hei-yan to the New York audience.

New York Asian Film Festival Director Grady Hendrix acknowledged the trade office’s contribution to the festival. The joint venture is an invaluable resource in widening New York audiences’ perspective toward Asian film culture, he added.

The 11 Hong Kong films featured in this year’s festival include:

1. “High Noon”
2. “Exodus”
3. “Eye in the Sky”
4. “Plastic City”
5. “Tactical Unit: Comrades in Arms”
6. “The Longest Night”
7. “Ip Man”
8. “Warlords”
9. “An Empress and the Warriors”
10. “Magazine Gap Road”
11. “Written by”

Wai Ka-fai, who wrote and directed “Written by,” attended the opening night of the festival on June 19, marking the world premiere of his film.

The New York Asian Film Festival ends July 5.