Hong Kong Trade Development Council led the Hong Kong Pavilion at the International Village during the Marchˆm du Film and the Festival de Cannes, which took place from 13th to 24th May 2009.

As a business and media centre for Hong Kong delegates, the Pavilion was equipped with a wide variety of facilities, as well as a comfortable meeting place where Hong Kong filmmakers could meet with overseas counterparts and build relationship with international media. The Pavilion experienced the busy buzzing of the Cannes Film Festival as it became the centre stage for interviews and activities.

Five Hong Kong companies promoted their latest works at the Hong Kong Pavilion during Marchˆm du Film 2009. They included: Edko Films Ltd, Mandarin Films Distribution Co Ltd, T-Films Ltd, Star Ltd and Universe Films Distribution Co Ltd.

In addition, there were also other Hong Kong film companies participated at Cannes, namely: Celestial Pictures, Cinema Popular Ltd, Deltamac (Hong Kong) Co Ltd, Distribution Workshop, Emperor Motion Pictures, Fortissimo Films, Golden Network Asia Ltd, Keep In Touch Company Ltd, Lark Films Distribution Ltd, Media Asia Films Group, and My Way Film Company Ltd.

Market screenings were scheduled to introduce a number of Hong Kong films at Cannes, including ¡§The Beast Stalker¡¨, ¡§Ip Man¡¨, ¡§Shinjuku Incident¡¨, ¡§Soundless Wind Chime¡¨ and ¡§The Storm Warriors¡¨.

Directed by renowned Hong Kong director Johnnie TO, the film ¡§Vengeance¡¨ was selected in competition for this year's Cannes' Palme d'Or. The new splash premiered in star-studded Cannes on 17th May 2009 (France time), attracting a cluster of international A-list actors and filmmakers including Tony LEUNG, Michelle YEOH, Ang LEE and Quentin TARANTINO. On the same day, Mr. TO was also made an officer in the Ordre National des Arts et des Lettres by the French Cultural Ministry, acknowledging his contribution to the film industry.

The HAF congratulates the following winners and participants at the Festival de Cannes 2009:

	Kinatay (Previously named as The Execution of P) (HAF 2009 Project) Directed by Brillante MENDOZA Award for Best Director
	BAK-JWI (Thirst) (HAF 2008 Project) Directed by PARK Chan-Wook Jury Prize Ex-aequo of the Competition
	Mother (HAF 2008 Project) Directed by BONG Joon-Ho Selected for Un Certain Regard
	Karaoke (HAF 2008 Project) Directed by Chris CHONG Chan-fui Selected for Director¡¦s Fortnight

In addition, we would like to congratulate director LOU Ye, HAF alumni, for receiving the Award for Best Screenplay with his latest film ¡§Spring Fever¡¨. 

Following the success of ¡§Serbis¡¨ (HAF 2008 Project), ¡§The Good, The Bad, The Weird¡¨ (HAF 2007 Project), ¡§Tokyo Sonata¡¨ (HAF 2007 Project), and ¡§Part Ocean, Part Flame¡¨ (HAF 2006 Project) at the Festival de Cannes 2008, this is the second consecutive year of which four HAF projects achieved critical acclaims in Cannes, further enhancing the HAF¡¦s reputation as the most important film-financing platform in Asia.

For more HAF project achievements, please visit www.haf.org.hk.

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