Hong Kong cinema seeks resurgence with fresh faces at Cannes

CANNES: Hong Kong’s once world-famous movie industry wants to bring back the heydays of the 1970s to the 1990s by investing in a new generation of directors, the chairman of the city’s film development council told Reuters at the Cannes Film Festival.

“We should not forget our identity. How the people all over the world would look at us when they recognise a Hong Kong movie,” said Wilfred Wong, chairman of the council that is mainly responsible for government funding of the industry.Hong Kong cinema exploded in the 1970s with Bruce Lee’s martial arts films. Following his death, that mantle was taken up by Jackie Chan.

The industry expanded into other genres and became the darling of international film festivals with titles such as “In the Mood for Love,” “Infernal Affairs” and “Kung Fu Hustle.”

Stars like Andy Lau, Michelle Yeoh and Maggie Cheung, and directors such as John Woo and Johnnie To, were frequently seen walking on the festival’s red carpet.