Acclaimed director Johnnie To Kei-fung's latest film Exiled will be Hong Kong's only entry to compete for the prestigious Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival which will feature a prominent Asian lineup and Hollywood glamour.
The film, starring Nick Cheung Ka-fai and Francis Ng Chun-yu, will be To's first to compete for the festival's top honour. He was invited to the festival two years ago to present Throw Down in the out-of-competition section.
To said he looked forward to returning to the festival, which will take place from August 30 to September 9.
Taiwanese director Tsai Ming-liang, a former Golden Lion winner, will return to the competition with Hei Yan Quan [Black Eye Circle]. Tsai won in 1994 with Vive L'Amour.
In the out-of-competition section, big budget Hong Kong-mainland co-production The Banquet, by Feng Xiaogang and starring Daniel Wu Yin-cho and Zhang Ziyi, will be screened.
Jackie Chan may show up with his latest action flick Rob-B-Hood. The section also sees mainland director Jia Zhangke's documentary Dong and Liu Jie's Mabei Shang De Fating.