Hong Kong film blitz at Europe's premier showcase

The HKTDC threw one of the festival's trademark spectacular parties and held a series of high-profile press conferences at its seaside pavilion at the International Village, while Hong Kong star Maggie Cheung was on the prestigious international competition jury.

The territory's celebrated director Wong Kar Wai's first English-language film, My Blueberry Nights, opened the festival. The movie, starring American singer Norah Jones and British actor Jude Law, competed against the world's top productions.

Triangle, a late out-of-competition addition, jointly directed by Johnnie To, Ringo Lam and Tsui Hark, was shown at the festival. In an unusual collaboration, the three film veterans each directed a 30-minute segment of the police story, starring Hong Kong actors Louis Koo, Simon Yam and Sun Hong Lei.

Hong Kong companies were also well represented at the Film Market 2007, held concurrently with the Festival, with most companies reporting lively sales. Some 14 Hong Kong film companies participated in the festival this year, with 10 films for sale and a number of market screenings to promote them.

One trend emerged. While Wong Kar Wai made a cultural breakthrough with his first English-language film (shot in the US), most Hong Kong filmmakers are looking to the Chinese mainland to boost the flagging local industry.

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