The 28 th Hong Kong International Film Festival Opening Ceremony
Speech by Dr Darwin Chen, Chairman of the Hong Kong Arts Development Council
Date: April 6, 2004
Venue: Hong Kong Cultural Centre

Honoured guests, film professionals, members of the press,

Welcome to the opening ceremony of the 28 th Hong Kong International Film Festival.

Today’s intensely competitive world calls on all countries and regions to face the challenge not only of survival but to be artistically creative for their nationals. This can be achieved by giving them a vision of life through films. And the HKIFF has once again taken the initiative by hosting this festival for the 28 th time.

The Festival covers a broad spectrum of themes, from drama to comedy, and provides a platform for exchange among film professionals from many countries and local and overseas visitors who come from different walks of life.

This year, the HKIFF has launched some new programmes. It has revitalised the quaint tradition of outdoor film viewing by staging screenings in the rustic countryside of Lantau Island. It has also set up a new SIGNIS Award under the auspices of SIGNIS Hong Kong with 12 quality films selected to honour our film professionals’ efforts in promoting artistic, human, social and spiritual values.

The HKIFF has also released a Festival Album for the first time. The album, featuring theme songs of films shown in past festivals, was compiled by veteran music critic Wong Chi-chung.

Our conscientious and all-round efforts have been rewarding. By the end of March, more than 40 percent of our tickets have been sold, including 27 “full house”, underscoring the overwhelming support we have received from the public. The Super Value Passes, always popular with diehard fans, were sold out within three days, and the new VIP Passes went in one single day. In short, our ticket did fantastically well!

Because of the downturn in our economy in previous years, Hong Kong faced a difficult time. But the economic recovery in 2004 changed everything.

This is good news for all concerned, particularly for the Hong Kong Arts Development Council which is aware that it cannot always rely on the Government or individual organisations to promote arts development effectively. The ADC realises that it must redouble its efforts to secure more strategic partnerships with various sectors of the community.

This year, the HKIFF must sincerely and profoundly thank our long-time partner the Leisure and Cultural Services Department for providing the venues, our major sponsor Cathay Pacific, and all members of the film industry.

Hong Kong has now become part of China. As a huge market, China fully deserves to host its own international film festival which is bound to get unstinted support from film-makers around the world.

Hong Kong, meanwhile, continues being the flagship for this event as well as for the Asian region.

Thank you.