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| Louis Koo laments that applying for location shoots in Hong Kong is not easy and has plenty of restrictions |
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| Sakura Ando states that she enjoys Stephen Chow's movies courtesy of on.cc |
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| Louis Koo urges the Hong Kong film industry to explore new roads courtesy of singtao.com |
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| Louis Koo feels that Hong Kong films must innovate, and hopes that the government would coordinate with the industry more |
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| Japanese Best Actress Sakura Ando expresses that she likes Stephen Chow's movies and hopes to have a chance to work with him |
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| PAVANE FOR AN INFANT's director Chong Keat Aun, actors Fish Liew and Ben Yuen attend the Hong Kong International Film Festival opening ceremony |
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| The Juno Mak written and directed SONS OF THE NEON NIGHT is the only Chinese language film selection at the Cannes Film Festival courtesy of mingpao.com |
The opening ceremony of the 49th Hong Kong International Film Festival was held at the Cultural Centre last night, with the world premiere of Japanese director Tetsuya Nakashima's THE BRIGHTEST SUN and Malaysian director Chong Keat Aun's PAVANE FOR AN INFANT kicking off the 12-day festival. This year's filmmaker in focus would be Louis Koo Tin Lok. The film festival would bring 10 of his films to relive his iconic moments on the silver screen, and he would also participate in interviews. He would like to talk about the future of Hong Kong's film industry the most.
The filmmaker in focus Koo Tin Lok attended the opening ceremony of the festival, along with THE BRIGHTEST SUN's director Tetsuya Nakashima and producer Yasunori Naruse, as well as PAVANE FOR AN INFANT director Chong Keat Aun and its two leads Fish Liew Chi Yu and Ben Yuen Fu Wah. The guest of this year's Focus section, famous Japanese actress Sakura Ando made a surprise appearance, but the ambassador of this year's film festival Angela Yuen Lai Lam was absent due to illness.
Koo Tin Lok would be this film festival's filmmaker in focus. 10 of his films would be screened and an interview would take place on the 19th of this month. He joked that he has never tried to talk for the whole hour in an interview, but it would be only about films. He wanted to talk about the future of the Hong Kong film industry the most. Regarding the development and trend of Hong Kong films, he said, "The trend has to open up a new direction, trying different new things! Actually it also depends on different factors. Now that the global economy is not good, how can anyone be in the mood to go to the movies?"
Referring to the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Rosanna Law Shuk-pui encouraging Hong Kong filmmakers to film more in the mainland. Goo Jai said, "There has always been. It also depends on whether the film itself is suitable for filming in the mainland. If a large set construction is needed then we have to. If we are making a family film, shooting it in Hong Kong is already enough." However Goo Jai pointed out that Hong Kong has always been small and crowded, and finding a place to film had certain difficulties. For example TWILIGHT OF THE WARRIORS: WALLED IN (GAU LUNG SING JAI JI WAI SING) built the entire Kowloon Walled City set that had to be demolished at the end of filming; while the mainland movies can retain the sets for tourist attractions after filming, which would help promote tourism. "Actually some movies in Hong Kong can be used as tourist attractions for tourists to visit after they have been successfully made, like the old Yau Ma Tei Police Station." Would there be more negotiations with the relevant departments of the government so that the movie sets could be preserved? Goo Jai said helplessly, "Just finding a place to apply for filming is difficult. I have tried to rent a flyover from the government to shoot a film, but when it is approved the shoot could not take place during rush hour; and the remaining time was not enough to shoot, so I really need to communicate more. I hope for a little more coordination with us, then the film industry would be able to shoot more smoothly."
Johnnie To Kei Fung in an overseas media interview said that he has not scalped plans to make ELECTION 3 (HAK SEH WUI 3). If the production would begin would he participate? Goo Jai joked, "I want STAR WARS to reach episode 18 too!" His film SONS OF THE NEON NIGHT (FUNG LUM FOR SHAN) was selected for the Midnight Screening section of the Cannes Film Festival. Some foreign media liked his and Sean Lau Ching Wan's chances to compete for Best Actor. Koo Tin Lok humorously said, "Do you really like the odds? It's still something to be happy about!" Koo Tin Lok constantly wore sunglasses at events as of late. Goo Jai revealed that it was due to an eye problem. "The right eye's retina has two holes and eye floaters appeared. Wearing sunglasses would turn the environment darker so it wouldn't be as serious." He has already scheduled the operation and would need a week to recover. He would not be able to take a flight for some time.
Speaking of attending G-Dragon's concert in Korea earlier, he was caught with a mystery woman next to him and some suspected her to be GD's sister. Goo Jai said, "GD's Pa, Ma, sister, the whole family was there. I was just watching the concert, but I haven't watched the concert when it was so cold."
This year's festival screened nearly 200 films from 69 countries and regions, including 6 world premieres and 52 Asian premieres. The festival also invited a number of renowned filmmakers, including French director Leos Carax, Spanish director Albert Serra, Finnish director Juho Kuosmanen, Golden Horse Best Actor Lee Kang-sheng, Japanese director Shinobu Yaguchi and actress Yukino Kishii, to meet and exchange views with Hong Kong audiences during the festival.
The director of the opening film PAVANE FOR AN INFANT Chong Keat Aun, the two leads Fish Liew Chi Yu and Ben Yuen Fu Wah walked the red carpet and were interviewed. Liew Chi Yu revealed that she played a volunteer in the abandoned baby barn in the film, in order to find the son she abandoned atone for her sins. The biggest challenge was that she has been used to making commercial films in Hong Kong and had to adjust to the pace of the film production there. This time she has to find the slow pace of acting in dramatic films. Although she was Malaysian, but she was not used to speaking Malaysian in this film. "Because I rarely speak it, I have to study it with a tutor before hand." Yuen Fu Wah had a ritual dance scene in the film and also had to practice hard in advance.
When asked about boyfriend Siuyea Lo Chun Yip's Hong Kong Film Awards Best Supporting Actor nomination this year, would she walk the red carpet with him? She joked, "I am not his spouse yet. I can walk it myself, I don't need him to, haha! Let me take all the glory himself."
Famous Japanese actress Sakura Ando came to Hong Kong the night before. She greeted the media in Cantonese, "How is everyone?" She said that this would be her third trip to Hong Kong. "The last time was 6 years ago, at the time I attended the Asian Film Awards with SHOPLIFTERS." She would stay for three days. Although the trip would be very short, but she hoped to take the opportunity to taste Hong Kong food and watch more movies. She admired Wong Kar Wai, Johnnie To Kei Fung and Stephen Chow Sing Chi's movies the most, so she has seen all the Chow Sing Chi movies released in Japan. Her husband was a To Kei Fung supporter, and she would also accompany her husband to watch his movies. "Hong Kong films are very charming, and have brought me a lot of inspirations and revelations." Would she like to have a chance to work with the three directors? She bluntly said that she would. As for whether she wanted to make comedy, she laughed and said that she has never chosen roles. She would go all out if she would have the opportunity to work together.
In addition, yesterday the Cannes Film Festival announced its selections. The Juno Mak Chun Lung produced, directed and written SONS OF THE NEON NIGHT (FUNG LUM FOR SHAN) was chosen for the "Midnight Screening" segment and became the only Chinese-language film selection this year. Mak Chun Lung said, "I would like to thank the Cannes Film Festival jury on behalf of the team. I believe that every film has its own destiny. I really couldn't find a more suitable time and place to hear the prelude to SONS OF THE NEON NIGHT than this."
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