[2013.04.19] BLIND DETECTIVE WILL BE A LATE NIGHT FEATURE IN CANNES

Andy Lau and Sammi Cheng are trying to make time to walk the Cannes red carpet together for the Johnnie To film BLIND DETECTIVE world premiere

Carina Lau and Liu Ye's BENDS is selected for Un Certain Regard, giving new director Flora Lau a shot of confidence

Jia Zhangke's A TOUCH OF SIN is his third film in Cannes competition
courtesy of mingpao.com

The 66th Cannes Film Festival yesterday announced its 19 category Palme d'Or nominations, Hong Kong films were completely sunk. The pre race favorite Johnnie To Kei Fung film BLIND DETECTIVE (MAN TAM) finally will appear as a late night special screening. Leads Andy Lau Tak Wa and Sammi Cheng Sau Man were already surprised about being selected; new director Flora Lau Wan Man's first feature film, the Carina Lau Ka Ling starred BENDS (GWOR GAI) has been selected for Un Certain Regard. The film festival will open on May 15th.

On the Cannes jury two years ago, To Kei Fung this time will return with his new film BLIND DETECTIVE. Because it will not be in competition, he will naturally be more relaxed. "I hope even more viewers around the world will be able to enjoy this film that belongs to Hong Kong. At the same time I hope Lau Tak Wa and Cheng Sau man will be able to take time so I can show them around Cannes."

On the other hand, the Un Certain Regard segment that will feature new directors this year will welcome Lau Wan Man's first film as a director, the Carina Lau Ka Ling and Chen Kun starred BENDS. The story will be about a socialite and a driver and how they support each other through crises in their lives. It will also be just as full of authentic Hong Kong flavor.

The director described the Cannes selection was "An unexpected surprise, the cast and the crew's effort and hard work have not been wasted."

Although Lau Ka Ling was not in Hong Kong, she was still very excited to learn the good news. She said that she participated in this film "originally to help fulfill the new director's dream, but during the shoot I also experienced and learned a lot." She also said that she was very happy to work with Chen Kun. "He is great."

Among the 19 films in competition, only one is a Chinese film. Mainland director Jia Zhangke's new film A TOUCH OF SIN. Aside from his wife Zhao Tao, he even invited Jiang Wu and Wang Baoqiang to play a modern heroic story that crossed province lines.