Inaugural edition of Kung Fu Film Festival successfully concluded in Toronto (with photos)

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     The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Toronto) (Toronto ETO) supported the inaugural edition of the Kung Fu Film Festival (Festival), which has presented six screenings of martial arts movies across the Greater Toronto Area from May 31 to June 1 (Toronto time) to celebrate the 50 years of Hong Kong's kung fu cinema heritage and its influence on global film culture.

     To mark the festival's debut, Toronto ETO hosted an opening ceremony in Markham on May 31 with the presence of Canada Hong Kong Intercultural Association President and the Festival Chair, Ms Connie Yu, Secretary Manager of Southern Film Culture Foundation and the Festival Curator, Ms Catherine Lam, along with the Consul-General of the People's Republic of China in Toronto, Mr Luo Weidong, Senator Mr Woo Yuen-pau, Member of Parliament of Canada Mr Michael Ma and about 50 guests from the local film, cultural and business communities. Some of them also graced the closing ceremony before the screening of the Hong Kong production "Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In" directed by Soi Cheang and starring Louis Koo, Raymond Lam and Philip Ng in Toronto on June 1.

     Speaking at the closing ceremony, the Acting Director of the Toronto ETO, Mr Gavin Yeung, highlighted Hong Kong's position as an international hub for the arts, cultural and creative industries.

"Each film featured in this festival is a gem of Hong Kong's film industry," Mr Yeung shared. "Over the decades, Hong Kong movies and film talents have won numerous international awards. Many Hong Kong actors, directors, cinematographers and producers have become household names at global level."

     Mr Yeung also reaffirmed the commitment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government to supporting the cultural and creative industries, noting that significant funding has been approved through the Film Development Fund for film projects. He added that the Toronto ETO would continue to bring more Hong Kong films to participate in various international film festivals across Canada.

     The two-day festival curated a selection of six Hong Kong martial arts films produced between 1974 and 2024, including "The Shaolin Temple" (including a special AI anime version), "Martial Club", "Ip Man 3", "Kids from Shaolin", "Hapkido", and "Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In", offering Canadian audience a dynamic view into the evolution of Hong Kong-produced kung fu cinema.

     In addition, a student seminar with Q&A session was held during the festival at Cineplex Cinemas Scarborough on June 1. The audience actively engaged in the discussion and shared their views on Hong Kong's martial arts movies.

Ends/Wednesday, June 4, 2025
Issued at HKT 7:50

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The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Toronto (Toronto) (Toronto ETO) supported the screening of six Hong Kong kung fu movies at the Kung Fu Film Festival (Festival) in the Greater Toronto Area. Photo shows the Acting Director of the Toronto ETO, Mr Gavin Yeung (first row, second right); the Festival Chair, Ms Connie Yu (first row, first right) and Festival Curator, Ms Catherine Lam (first row, third right), before the screening of the closing film at the Festival in Toronto on June 1.

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Toronto) (Toronto ETO) supported the inaugural edition of the Kung Fu Film Festival (Festival) to celebrate the 50 years of Hong Kong’s kung fu cinema heritage. Photo shows (from right) the Festival Curator, Ms Catherine Lam; Hong Kong Canadian Artist Dominic Lam; the Public Relations Officer of the Toronto ETO, Ms Hilda Chow; the Consul-General of the People's Republic of China in Toronto, Mr Luo Weidong; the Festival Chair, Ms Connie Yu; Member of Parliament of Canada Mr Michael Ma; Senator Mr Woo Yuen-pau and other guests at the opening ceremony of the Festival in Markham on May 31.