Film pact signed at Cannes

Leading a Hong Kong film industry delegation at the 77th Cannes Film Festival, in France, Secretary for Culture, Sports & Tourism Kevin Yeung yesterday attended the signing ceremony for a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on film and television co-operation between Create Hong Kong and France’s Centre national du cinéma et de l'image animée.

Mr Yeung said the MOU marks closer ties between Hong Kong and France and provides a framework to facilitate collaboration and exchange in the area of film and television, thereby strengthening connections and deepening mutual understanding.

He underlined that the MOU will open a new chapter in co-produced films, collaboration among film and television talent from the two places, and cultural exchange between Hong Kong and France, and said he looks forward to seeing the results of the agreement.

He was also the officiating guest at the opening ceremony of the Hong Kong Pavilion at the Cannes Film Market on Wednesday.

During the festival, he has attended thematic seminars, a midnight screening of a Hong Kong film, the Hong Kong Night reception, and the China’s New Talents Going Global Night, besides engaging in meetings and exchanges with members of the film industry from all over the world.

In his speeches delivered both at the opening ceremony of the Hong Kong Pavilion and the Hong Kong Night reception, Mr Yeung mentioned the Government’s staunch support for the city’s film industry.

In addition to injecting about $3 billion into the Film Development Fund since 2005, the Government is also strengthening the local industry’s participation in international film festivals, which has increased the exposure of Hong Kong cinema.

Mr Yeung also talked about the launch of the Hong Kong-Europe-Asian Film Collaboration Funding Scheme, which aims to bolster Hong Kong’s status as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange.

Mr Yeung will depart from Cannes, to return to Hong Kong, on May 18.