The 38th Hawaii International Film Festival (HIFF) presented a special spotlight on world-renowned auteur Wong Kar-wai in its Filmmaker in Focus series. The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, San Francisco was the presenting sponsor of the series at the Festival, which ran from November 8 to 18 in Hawaii.
The series contained a retrospective of three important movies by Wong – "In the Mood for Love" (2000), "Happy Together" (1997) and "Chungking Express" (1994). Wong attended a special extended Q&A session after the screening of "Chungking Express" on November 15.
“The films of Wong Kar-wai are very much a gateway to Asian and arthouse cinema for film fans around the world,” the HIFF Artistic Director, Mr Anderson Le, said. “From 'Chungking Express' to 'In the Mood for Love', his films are considered some of the greatest works of all time. We are truly honored to host director Wong as he embodies the HIFF programming ethos, and enable our audiences to interact with one of the greatest living filmmakers.”
At the reception prior to the screening of "Chungking Express", the Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, San Francisco, Mr Ivanhoe Chang, expressed thanks to the HIFF for hosting director Wong and including the retrospective. “We are proud of director Wong’s achievements. He has successfully demonstrated to the international audience the quality and stylistic work of our Hong Kong filmmakers,” he said.
Mr Chang said that filmmaking is very important and widely supported in Hong Kong, and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government spares no effort in promoting film development, which is an essential element of Hong Kong’s vibrant creative industries.
He said that the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, reaffirmed the commitment to build up the brand name for Hong Kong films in her recently announced Policy Address. “She announced the injection of HK$1 billion into the Film Development Fund, with a view to boosting the development of Hong Kong’s film industry through measures under four broad directions, namely nurturing talent, enhancing local production, market expansion and building the audience.
“Since its inception in 2007, the Film Development Fund has financed over 30 film projects, involving funding of over HK$90 million. These films have won nearly 100 awards at local and overseas film festivals,” he said.
The Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in San Francisco, Mr Ivanhoe Chang (right); Hong Kong film director Wong Kar-wai (second right); Executive Director of Hawaii International Film Festival, Ms Beckie Stocchetti (second left); and the Artistic Director of the Hawaii International Film Festival (HIFF), Mr Anderson Le (left), are pictured at the reception before the screening of “Chungking Express” at the 38th HIFF in Hawaii on November 15.
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The Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in San Francisco, Mr Ivanhoe Chang, speaks at the reception before the screening of “Chungking Express” at the 38th Hawaii International Film Festival in Hawaii on November 15.
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Hong Kong film director Wong Kar-wai (left) speaks at the reception before the screening of “Chungking Express” at the 38th Hawaii International Film Festival in Hawaii on November 15.
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Hong Kong film director Wong Kar-wai (left); and the Artistic Director of the Hawaii International Film Festival (HIFF), Mr Anderson Le (right), attends the Q&A session following the screening of “Chungking Express” at the 38th HIFF in Hawaii on November 15.
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