HKIFF to launch monthly programme and privilege scheme

The Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF) is one of the territory’s leading annual cultural events providing moviegoers with a diversity of quality films from around the world. The Festival is now extending its brand to a new year-round regular monthly programme called HKIFF Cine Fan. Details and the line up for Cine Fan’s first edition, running from 5 April – 19 May, were revealed today by organiser The Hong Kong International Film Festival Society (HKIFFS).

Funded by the Hong Kong Film Development Council (HKFDC) and based at agnès b. CINEMA at Hong Kong Arts Centre, the monthly HKIFF Cine Fan programme showcases the best in world cinema, past and present – including tributes to masters, digitally restored classics, indies, genre films, and more. Filmmakers and critics – both local and overseas – will be invited regularly to attend meet-the-audience sessions, conduct seminars, and join panel discussions to facilitate cultural exchange across borders.

The programme will launch on 5 April with

, an empowering and engaging tale about aspiring street dancers by up-and-coming Hong Kong director Adam WONG ( ,

). Following the exciting kickoff is an extensive showcase on Italy’s world-famous directing and screenwriting duo, the Taviani brothers (Paolo & Vittorio TAVIANI), featuring eleven of their works such as

(1972), (1977), (1982),

(1987), (1990), (1998) and

(2012) .

In addition, the Cine Fan programme features a retrospective tribute to French film pioneer and film essayist Chris MARKER who died in July 2012. With selections ranging from the rarely seen

(1957) to his classic (1963) and much acclaimed

(1983), the programme also includes a documentary essay on this enigmatic filmmaker who was obsessed with not being photographed and avoiding the media.

, directed by Japanese-American, Emmy-award winning filmmaker Emiko OMORI who worked with Marker early in her career in San Francisco Bay Area and remained friends with him until his death, achieves the rare feat of assembling fragments of personal life coupled with intimate interviews with people inspired by the master, and provides a perfect complement to his rich and edifying work. She will be in town to meet the audience.

Other highlights include four hidden gems from the late Shochiku master KINOSHITA Keisuke, and four all-time classics of cinema, namely (1953), (1958), (1937) and (1969). The full programme can be viewed atwww.cinefan.com.hk, while tickets can be booked online atwww.urbtix.hkor in-person at all URBTIX outlets.

In conjunction with the new programme, the HKIFF Cine Fan privilege scheme has been introduced to offer ticket discounts both for the Cine Fan programme, the annual HKIFF, the Summer International Film Festival, and other associated programmes. By signing up now audiences will receive a welcome gift by selecting four free tickets from a pool of 13 popular films at the 37 th HKIFF, including , , and

. Details are available atwww.cinefan.com.hk.

“HKIFF Cine Fan is an important addition to our activities in promoting film culture,” said Roger GARCIA, Executive Director of the HKIFFS. “We hope to fulfill our objective of creating a regular and enjoyable programme for all who love the cinema as we do.”