The Cannes Film Festival opens today with the strongest presence ever by Hong Kong and its biggest effort yet to promote its films.
Independent film-maker Nicholas Chin's 14-minute film Tai Tai is Hong Kong's first production to be nominated in the short-film category, where it competes with nine other films.
The judges include Hollywood director Martin Scorsese.
A 200-strong brigade, including Tony Leung Chiu-wai and Maggie Cheung Man-yuk, stars of the critically acclaimed film In the Mood for Love, are descending on the French Riviera for the three-week event. The $8 million promotion, organised by the Trade Development Council, will culminate on May 18 with Hong Kong Night, a cocktail gala to be held on a beach by the Boulevard de la Croisette, where the territory's representatives will rub shoulders with 500 foreign film buyers.
TDC spokesman Lawrence Yau Chung-hok said the choice of the venue was an attempt to attract a bigger crowd. 'Last year it was held at a luxury hotel but many guests couldn't get in or stay long because it was so packed. This year, film buyers can meet our Hong Kong team in a place with a Mediterranean flavour.'
Thirteen Hong Kong films, including the award-winning July Rhapsody and kung fu star Jet Li's Martial Arts of Shaolin, will be screened at an exhibition aimed at foreign buyers.
