The Film Development Fund (FDF) has financed production of 13 films of different genres, including animation, kung-fu, romance, comedy, ethical and suspense films. This demonstrates its effective role in adding vitality to the local film industry, the Chairman of the Hong Kong Film Development Council, Mr Jack So, said today (June 26).
Mr So will attend the premiere of the film "La Comédie humaine" this evening to show support for the film industry. Co-directed by Mr Chan Hing-kai and Ms Janet Chun Siu-chun, "La Comédie humaine" is the sixth FDF-financed film project screened in Hong Kong. The production budget for the film is $8.4 million and the amount of government finance is $2.52 million.
The film is the only locally produced new-style comedy to be screened this summer. Through the performance of two talented actors, Mr Wong Cho-lam and Mr Chapman To, the directors tried to depict vividly how typical Hong Kong men faced setbacks in everyday life.
"With the directors' calibre and the two actors' outstanding performance, I hope the film can achieve a good box office result," Mr So said.
"The film participated in the 34th Hong Kong International Film Festival and the Udine Far East Film Festival in April, showing that Hong Kong films are attractive to the international market. I hope the industry will continue their efforts in this area and bring Hong Kong's new-style comedy to new heights beyond the local market.
"The Hong Kong Film Development Council will continue its full support for the development of the industry. We will encourage the production of more quality films of new genres through the FDF and help nurture talent for the sector," he said.
In October 2007, the Government injected $300 million into the FDF and expanded its scope to partly finance small-to-medium budget film productions. The 13 film applications approved so far involved a total funding of $38.19 million.
Saturday, June 26, 2010