The Hong Kong Festival’s media launch was successful launched at the New Zealand Asia Institute on 5th July 2012.

“We are celebrating the 15th Anniversary of the Establishment of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, or more commonly known as the handover,” says Stella Chan, President of Hong Kong New Zealand Business Association. “with a Festival Opening and Anniversary Concert by Hong Kong Children’s Symphony Orchestra at the Auckland Town Hall.”

“The theme this year is ‘Developing Young Talents’, and will be showcasing a wide range of young talents from Hong Kong, locally and internationally, through our series of events,” says Raymond Suen, Festival Director. “August is the month to share the success stories of these young bright angels from Asia’s World City.”

We are proud to bring to you movies from Hong Kong, which was very well received at the launch. HANTEC presents: Cinema Hong Kong, will showcase four latest Hong Kong blockbusters; one critically acclaimed documentary by Hong Kong film director Ms. Angie Chen; a Shaw Brother classics from the 1980s starring Chow Yun-Fat; and a collection of student works from Hong Kong academic institutes.

We will also bring back the very popular Career Hong Kong and Celebrate Hong Kong, both providing great insight and networks to anyone interested in working in Hong Kong and fostering business networks.

Free tickets to the Festival Opening and Concert, programme and sessions time for Cinema Hong Kong are available on http://www.hkfestival.org.nz. Tickets to Cinema Hong Kong on sale at Rialto Cinema on 16 July 2012.

We look forward to see you again. For more information please visit http://www.hkfestival.org.nz.

Additional Information – List of events as follows:
• 30th July 2012 – Opening Cocktail & Anniversary Concert – Check http://www.hkfestival.org.nz for free tickets.
• 15th August 2012 – Career Hong Kong: Careers Workshop
• 16th August 2012 – HANTEC presents: Cinema Hong Kong: Premiere Night
• 17th – 22nd August2012 – HANTEC presents: Cinema Hong Kong: Film Showcase
Movies:
o ???? Love Lifting (Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyETq38V0xE)
Based on a real story, Guangdong athlete Li Li (Elanne Kwong) is forced to give up weightlifting when she is diagnosed with diabetes. She moves to Hong Kong and scrapes a living doing manual labor jobs. Life is tough for sure, but she always holds her chin up with courage and optimism, which are exactly what Shi Yong (Chapman To) sorely needs. The man has nearly been crushed by the failure in his business and marriage, and meeting Li puts his life back on track. The two soon fall in love, and Shi Yong finds her a new job as a fitness coach and encourages her to get back into championship weightlifting. He's even willing to stay home as a househusband to support her, but a sudden accident threatens to undo what they've achieved to uphold her - or rather their - dream...

o ?? Fairy Tale Killer (Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxr0PoBs7KM)
One day, a medium built stammerer, Jun (Wang Bao Qiang) confesses to five murders at a police station, but fails to illustrate the details, and after a long oral examination the police believe Jun to be mentally unstable as his mentioned murders prove not to exist. Soon after, a series of mysterious murders take place in the district where Detective Han (Lau Ching Wan) is stationed. Each victim was executed in different but equally brutal ways. Instinct tells Han Jun in the suspect after reviewing his recent statements, but when his team searches Jun's apartment, apart from a pile of old fairy tale books, no evidence is found there. One night, Han gets inspired when he overhears his wife reading a bedtime story to their daughter. Han immediately examines the books found in Jun's apartment and discovers mysterious symbols scribbled on the pages. The punishments described in two of the fairy tales match two of the murders and the evidence shows that three more murders will occur...

o ???? Lives in Flames (Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmuoveNxf_M)
Based on a real story, Alan is a job hopper who just got fired at his fifth job in two years. His father has been hoping that he could take over the family business, but he insisted to create his own path even though he has no passion for everything.

He ran into his high school bandmate – Dash. Dash has been working at a music store after graduation. Although Dash’s girlfriend Jeana doesn’t like what he’s doing, he’s still very happy as long as he’s surrounded by music. Dash invited Alan to join his band, but Alan has been dragging on this because he’s not enthusiastic about music. Until he saw Meg, the lead singer whom he loves at first sight, he decided to…

o ??? Big Blue Lake (Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ukfdZcptjc)
Multiple award winning film, Lai Yee (Leila Tong) returns to her quiet rural village home in Hong Kong after an attempt at a career in Mainland China ends in failure. Having spent many years away, Lai Yee is shocked to discover that her mother (Amy Chum) is showing early symptoms of Alzheimer's, and her siblings have moved away. While she struggles to readjust to the village life, Lai Yee's former classmate Lin Jin (Lawrence Chou) comes back into her life. Together, they explore lost memories, a chance at love, and the mystical Big Blue Lake that will give them courage to start anew.

CINEMA HONG KONG Film Showcase - “Doco Focus” Selection
o ????? This Darling Life (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vI2hzzfT50)

CINEMA HONG KONG Film Showcase - “Young Talents” Selections
o Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts – A Day in a Life
o Hong Kong Baptist University – Sunny's Baby
o Hong Kong Design Institute – Better We Go Travelling (Although my head is aching)
o Hong Kong Polytechnic University –
o Before the End
o Death of the Mascot
o Innocence
o Run Island Run
o White Horse Prince
o Zoo

• 23rd August 2012 – Connect Hong Kong Business Seminar
• 30th August 2012 – Celebrate Hong Kong: Closing Gala