The local film industry yesterday said it would take advantage of an international entertainment fair in Hong Kong to seek greater exposure for Taiwanese films and co-production ventures for Taiwanese producers.
A total of 34 Taiwanese filmmakers and two media groups are scheduled to attend the 15th annual Hong Kong International Film and TV Market, which runs from Monday to Thursday next week, the Government Information Office (GIO) said at a press conference in Taipei.
A Taiwan pavilion will be set up at the fair to help the companies promote Taiwanese films, Government Information Office Minister Johnny Chiang (江啟臣) said.
Dubbed Asia’s biggest exhibition for the entertainment industry, the trade fair allowed Taiwanese director Wei Te-sheng (魏德聖) to connect with John Woo (吳宇森), the famed Hong Kong director and producer, in 2009. Woo eventually signed on to produce Wei’s film, Seediq Bale (賽德克巴萊), the biggest production in the history of Taiwanese film, an official with the Taipei Film Commission said.
Film directors and producers, including Chen Hung-i (陳宏一) and Herb Hsu (徐麗雯), whose films will be screened at the Hong Kong International Film Festival, will promote their works along with the actors and actresses.
When Love Comes (當愛來的時候), which won best film at last year’s Golden Horse awards, will be shown during a program titled “Taiwanese Cinema Returns,” along with the films Hotel Blackcat and The Fourth Portrait (第四張畫).
One of the events at the fair — the Asian Film Awards ceremony — will be held on Monday at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Monga (艋舺), only the second Taiwanese film in recent history to rake in more than NT$100 million (US$3.38 million) at the local box office, captured five nominations — best actor for Ethan Juan (阮經天), best newcomer for Mark Chao (趙又廷), best cinematography, best production design and best music score.
Monga has the second-most nominations, behind the Japanese drama Confessions.
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