Following are the opening remarks by the Acting Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Raistlin Lau, at the Networking event for the Hong Kong-Asian Film Collaboration Funding Scheme today (March 13):
Dr Wong (Chairman of the Hong Kong Film Development Council, Dr Wilfred Wong), ladies and gentlemen,
Hong Kong is tasked with the role as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange, one of the major works of the Government is to promote Hong Kong’s pop culture to a world audience. The Government attaches great importance to the development of the Hong Kong film industry. Hong Kong film is one of the important creative industries and also leads Hong Kong’s popular culture.
With the rise of Asian cinema among global audiences over the past decade, we believe that in-depth exchanges between Asian and Hong Kong filmmakers through the collaboration of film productions can enhance the diversity of Hong Kong films. We are delighted to launch the Hong Kong-Asian Film Collaboration Funding Scheme in February this year to provide funding for film projects co-produced with filmmakers from Asian economies. Each approved film project will receive a grant up to $9 million.
I hope tonight’s event can serve as a bridge for filmmakers from different Asian economies and Hong Kong, to get to know each other and provide opportunities for collaboration. We look forward to seeing the amazing co-productions from some of you here. I certainly hope that there will be good movies to be co-produced by us here. Thank you.
Monday, March 13, 2023