HKTB Proudly Presents “Live Out the Cinematic Hong Kong” as Premiere of Docufilm Hong Kong Classics Reimagined Screened at Cannes Film Festival to Attract Global Visitors for Movie and Cultural Pilgrimages

The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) launched a thrilling new promotion called “Live Out the Cinematic Hong Kong” on Friday (17 May), celebrating classic Hong Kong movies with a docufilm Hong Kong Classics Reimagined and the introduction of an online travel guide to lure movie lovers to the city for movie and cultural pilgrimages. Hong Kong Classics Reimagined premiered at the prestigious “Marché du Film” at the 77th Cannes Film Festival in France on the same day, reaching out to a global audience through the silver screen.  

Showcasing Hong Kong’s unique appeal through classic movies

For the first time, Hong Kong Classics Reimagined brings together six movie makers – Wing Shya, Man Lim Chung, Kenji Tanigaki, Lawrence Kan, Wong Kwok-keung, and Lemon Liu – to recreate classic Hong Kong movies in a new 60-minute film featuring six popular genres: romance, detective thrillers, martial arts, action, comedy, and drama (See Appendix). The docufilm stars celebrated actors including Sylvia Chang, Sammo Hung, Gordon Lam, Karen Mok, and Charlene Choi and Gillian Chung from the girl group Twins, and showcases Hong Kong’s unique appeal and rich cultural heritage.

Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Mr Kevin Yeung (sixth from the right, photo on the left & seventh from the right, photo on the right) ; and HKTB Chairman Dr Pang Yiu-kai (fifth from the left, photo on the left & fourth from the left, photo on the right) join cast and crew members of Hong Kong Classics Reimagined for its kick-off ceremony at the Cannes Film Festival.

HKTB Chairman Dr Pang Yiu-kai said, “The influence of movies reaches far beyond entertainment, inspiring and igniting the desire to travel. Through Hong Kong Classics Reimagined, we pay tribute to timeless classics in Hong Kong’s cinematic history and revitalise them with a fresh burst of energy. We hope to inspire audiences from around the world to bring their cinematic dreams to life and enjoy unforgettable experiences in the captivating city of Hong Kong.”

Award-winning actress Ms Sylvia Chang, who plays the lead role in one of the shorts in the docufilm, shared her experience of the project. She expressed that she had a deep appreciation for the beauty of Hong Kong throughout the filming process with director Man. She mentioned that Hong Kong's urban areas and suburbs are closely connected, and within just a few tens of minutes, one can travel from the bustling city to beaches, countryside parks, and reservoirs, all of which boast beautiful scenery. She further expressed, "I have always regarded Hong Kong as a blessed place, and I hope that visitors to Hong Kong will not only engage in shopping but also discover the scenic beauty it has to offer."

Veteran film producer Joseph Chan Sinn-Gi, who was responsible for producing four of the short films, mentioned that he has lived in Hong Kong from childhood to adulthood and has a deep love for every detail of this city. He expressed, "I hope that visitors can come to Hong Kong frequently, create joyful moments, discover different opportunities here, experience Hong Kong's flexible and vibrant side, and enjoy the delicious food and friendly hospitality."

Acclaimed actress Sylvia Chang (fourth from the left) poses for a group photo with the cast and crew of the “Hong Kong Classics Reimagined”.	The HKTB brings the local delicacy "Egg Waffles" to Cannes, allowing participants to taste authentic Hong Kong cuisine.

Movie makers around the world attend the kick-off ceremony to savour Hong Kong’s appeal on silver screen

The HKTB invited movie makers from over 40 countries and regions, including film distributors, curators of film festivals, and representatives of on-demand streaming platforms from France, Germany, the UK, the US, Spain, Japan, South Korea, and Canada, to attend the kick-off cermemony of Hong Kong Classics Reimagined and appreciate Hong Kong’s unique metropolitan appeal and culture through the lens of local filmmakers, promoting the city to the world.

Worldwide audiences are invited to visit scenes of classic films in Hong Kong

Alongside the premiere of Hong Kong Classics Reimagined, HKTB also launched on its website a dedicated travel guide (https://www.discoverhongkong.com/eng/what-s-new/cinematic-hong-kong.html) on a series of specially curated experiences where visitors can immerse themselves in the world of Hong Kong movies and discover the beauty of the city beyond the famous scenes. Visitors can relive the classic scene in Infernal Affairs in record stores in Ap Liu Street, Sham Shui Po, retrace the renowned motorbike journey in Wong Kar-wai’s Fallen Angels on an open-top bus, and pay tribute to martial art legend Bruce Lee in Wing Chun workshops, experiencing the city’s charm on a journey inspired by the magic and lights of the silver screen.

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