Hong Kong comes to Auckland in August

5 August 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Hong Kong comes to Auckland in August

Newmarket Rialto is bejeweled by big red lanterns which mark the opening of the second Hong Kong Festival this August.

The Festival begins with the Windows of Hong Kong photo exhibition which starts on 2 August, followed by the infamous Hong Kong Film Festival on 12 August at this iconic Newmarket site.

Cameron Brewer, Chief Executive of Newmarket Business Association said it is Newmarket's great pleasure to host the Festival again, and this year the event is set to be bigger and better.

“For the next three weeks, the Auckland community will be treated to the beauty of Hong Kong, the Pearl of the Orient that is well known for its blend of traditional and contemporary culture.

“Through the Windows of Hong Kong on display at Rialto Shopping Centre, they will be able to get an insight of the city as the images capture people, food, landscape and culture,” says Mr Brewer.

In addition to the photo exhibition, Rialto Cinemas in Newmarket will feature eight new movies from Hong Kong, including one that will premiere in Auckland on the same day as Hong Kong.

Chairman and Founding Trustee of the Asian New Zealand Films Foundations, Alex Lee said distributors in Hong Kong are keen to be involved with the Hong Kong Festival in Auckland as they are aware of the recent interaction between Hong Kong and Oscar award winning creative director Richard Taylor of Weta Workshops through Hong Kong’s Cyberport.

“The eight titles include the award winning Echoes of the Rainbow which uses the sad but longing 1960s Hong Kong as its backdrop, unfolding the journey of a small family as they face challenges, ups and downs, sharing laughter within tears.

“The movie was awarded the Crystal Bear for the Best Feature Film in the 60th Berlinale 2010's Generation section – the first time a Hong Kong film has won the award – which was a great honour to the Hong Kong creative industry.

“There is of course the renowned action movie, which is also the premiere movie, City Under Siege. It is a sci-fi blockbuster that is being said as the most ambitious title from the acclaimed Hong Kong Director, Benny Chan.

“The various genre introduced by the Festival this year will surely satisfy the different appetite in our usually pampered Auckland audience.”

The Festival will conclude with a ‘Celebrate Hong Kong Banquet Dinner’ to celebrate the successful relationship between New Zealand and Hong Kong culture and businesses on 19 August.

Festival Director, Raymond Suen believes the Festival will bring together Hong Kong and local Auckland community to gain a better understanding of culture and business differences.

“We are glad to see support from the Newmarket community as it proves once again Auckland is the multi-cultural hub of New Zealand.

 
“The Festival will demonstrate the true integration of the people and cultures. This will be proven at our banquet dinner featuring some of Auckland’s hip young Chinese performers and traditional martial arts demonstration, the banquet is deemed to bring you to Hong Kong for the night.”

 The festival is hosted by the Hong Kong New Zealand Business Association with sponsorship from the HK Trade Development Council, HK Economic and Trade Office, Auckland City Council, The Langham Auckland, Cathay Pacific, HSBC, Xia and Yealands Estate.

For details on the movies and dinner, please visit www.hkfilmfestival.co.nz.
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