Johnnie To Master Class in Paris

Johnnie To conducts master class in Paris

2July 2012 (Hong Kong) ― Hong Kong’s respected and dedicated auteur Johnnie TO opened up to a French audience at a master class session on 1 July 2012, at Forum des Images in Paris.

One ofthe most anticipated events of the Hong Kong in Focus programme at the 10 th Paris Cinema International Film Festival (PCIFF), the master class was moderated by film critic Xavier LEHERPEUR and featured an engaging discussion on Johnnie TO’s early television works, the start of his renowned production company Milkyway Image in 1996, his celebrated support for aspiring local filmmakers through the Fresh Wave - International Short Film Festival in Hong Kong, and many more milestones in his successful and prolific career.

“I am very happy to have the chance to sharewith the audience in Paris my thoughts on Hong Kong cinema, particularly the younger generation of creative talent,” said Johnnie TO. “I believe that exchanging ideas across boundaries could always help inspire our industry.”

The Hong Kong in Focus programme (29 June– 10 July 2012) opened with an all-night screening of four of the director’s works ( Loving You, The Longest Night, Lifeline, and Life Without Principle) for young cineastes in Paris. An unprecedented collaboration between the Hong Kong International Film Festival Society (HKIFFS) and the PCIFF, the programme showcases over 80 films from the post-war era to the present, the first time such an extensive selection of Hong Kong films has been shown in Paris, celebrating both the 10 th anniversary of the PCIFF and the 15 th anniversary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

About The Hong Kong International Film Festival Society Limited (HKIFFS)

Uniting the World through Film

The Hong Kong International Film

Festival Society Limited (HKIFFS) is a charitable, non-profit and non-governmental organisation dedicated to the discovery and promotion of creativity in the art and culture of film.

Through its year-round programmes, the mission of the Society is tostrengthen global appreciation of Chinese film culture and to promote inspiring films from around the world, enriching the cultural life of Hong Kong.

Committed to the development of a vibrant film culture in Hong Kong and Asia, the Society organises three annual flagship events in March and April: the Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF), the Hong Kong - Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF) and the Asian Film Awards (AFA).

Passionately believing in the power of films to unite cultures and generations,

the HKIFFS is devoted to giving thousands of film lovers around the region direct access to the world’s most inspired films all year round.

About Paris Cinema International Film Festival (PCIFF)

The Paris Cinema International Film Festival (PCIFF) was initiated by the City Of Paris in 2003, and is chaired since 2006 by the actress Charlotte Rampling. Each year during the first two weeks of July, the festival aims to embody the outstanding vitality of cinema and the exceptional variety of films, cinematic genres, programmes, audiences and venues that Paris offers all year long.

The Paris Cinema IFF features an outline of the world contemporary cinema through aninternational competition and daily prestigious premieres presented by their cast. With more than 250 films screened during twelve days in emblematic spots of the French capital (including exciting and vibrant retrospectives), the Paris Cinema IFF gathers every year more than 70,000 visitors.