Chinese Film Panorama 2023 opens tonight (with photos)

     The opening ceremony for Chinese Film Panorama 2023 was held tonight (September 27) at the Grand Theatre of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre (HKCC), followed by the screening of the opening film "The Cord of Life" (2023) directed by Qiao Sixue.
 
     The Panorama is jointly presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) and the South China Film Industry Workers Union in association with Sil-Metropole Organisation Ltd, Southern Film Co Ltd and the China Film Foundation, and supported by the Bauhinia Culture Group. Twelve distinctive works released on the Mainland will be screened from today until October 29 at the Grand Theatre of the HKCC, the Cinema of the Hong Kong Film Archive, lecture halls of the Hong Kong Space Museum and Hong Kong Science Museum, the Auditorium of the North District Town Hall, Cine-Art House (Maritime Square) and the Rayson Huang Theatre of the University of Hong Kong.
 
     Addressing the opening ceremony, the Under Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Raistlin Lau, noted that the National 14th Five-Year Plan supported Hong Kong to develop into an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange. Exchanges between audiences home and abroad could be enhanced through cinematic art and presentation of this film programme. Co-operation platforms had also been established between Hong Kong and the Mainland, including the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Culture and Arts Festival, to promote the splendid Chinese culture abroad and showcase the soft power of the country.
 
     Other officiating guests at the opening ceremony included Board Member of the Bauhinia Culture Group Mr Wu Baoan; Deputy Director-General of the Department of Publicity, Cultural and Sports Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Mr Sun Zhaomin; the Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Mr Vincent Liu; the Chairman of the South China Film Industry Workers Union, Mr Cheung Hong-tat; the director of the opening film, Qiao Sixue; co-producer of "Mr. Zheng" (2022) Mr Hu Kai; and the General Manager of Sil-Metropole Organisation Ltd, Mr Ding Kai.
 
     The opening film "The Cord of Life" (2023) is a selection of the "Asian Future" competition section of the 35th Tokyo International Film Festival. It tells the story of a Mongolian musician bringing his Alzheimer's-stricken mother back home in the grasslands. He ties a rope to his mother to prevent her from wandering off, connecting them like an umbilical cord. During the journey, he gradually gains insight into his ancestors' perspectives on life and death.
 
     Other selected films include "Mr. Zheng" (2022) directed by Zou Dequan, "Lighting Up the Stars" (2022) directed by Liu Jiangjiang, "Like Father and Son" (2023) directed by Bai Zhiqiang, "Sister" (2021) directed by Yin Ruoxin, "Sunflower in the Dark" (2023) directed by Li Xu, "River of Salvation" (2022) directed by Gao Qisheng, "Like the Dyer's Hand" (2020) directed by Cheng Tsun-shing, "The Eleventh Chapter" (2021) directed by Chen Jianbin, "Post Truth" (2023) directed by Da Peng, "Striding into the Wind" (2021) directed by Wei Shujun and "Journey to the West" (2023) directed by Kong Dashan.
 
     "The Cord of Life" is in Putonghua and Mongolian. "Lighting Up the Stars" is in Putonghua and Wuhan and Sichuan dialects. "Like Father and Son" is in Putonghua and northern Shaanxi dialect. "Sister" is in Putonghua and Sichuan dialect. "River of Salvation" is in Putonghua and Wuhan dialect. The other films are in Putonghua. All films have Chinese and English subtitles.
 
     "Sunflower in the Dark" and "River of Salvation" will be screened for free at North District Town Hall, Cine-Art House (Maritime Square) and Rayson Huang Theatre of the University of Hong Kong. The free-admission tickets have been available at the respective screening venues since September 24. Each person can obtain up to two tickets per screening on a first-come, first-served basis. Other film tickets priced at $60 are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone bookings, please call 3166 1288. For programme details, please call 2734 2900 (LCSD) or 2780 5355 (Cine-Art House (Maritime Square)) or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/fp/en/listing.html?id=52.
 
     The LCSD has all along promoted Chinese history and culture. Apart from the Chinese Film Panorama 2023, the grand finale of the Chinese Opera Festival 2023, "Blessing This Land – Cantonese Opera Showcase under the Bamboo Theatre at Victoria Park" is staged from September 23 to October 8. Meanwhile, the Mid-Autumn Lantern Carnivals 2023 with fascinating programmes are held in Victoria Park, Sha Tin Park and Tuen Mun Park from September 23 to October 2. Members of the public can make use of these occasions to learn more about the characteristics of Chinese culture.