China News Service, Hong Kong, April 1st (Reporter Han Xingtong) The 45th Hong Kong International Film Festival opened at the Hong Kong Cultural Center on the evening of April 1.

"The Band of Seven" directed by seven senior Hong Kong directors including Johnnie To, Xu Anhua and Tsui Hark as the opening film, kicking off the 12-day film festival.

　　Last year's Hong Kong International Film Festival was cancelled due to the new crown pneumonia epidemic. This year, from April 1st to 12th, it was held in a mixed physical and online mode for the first time.

　　Wang Yingwei, chairman of the Hong Kong International Film Festival Association, said that this year’s film festival is rich in programs. In addition to a retrospective by Guan Jinpeng and lectures by famous Hong Kong artists, the festival also collected more than 190 excellent works from 58 countries and regions, of which 63 were Is the world, international and Asian premiere.

　　The Director of the Bureau of Commerce and Economic Development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, Qiu Tenghua, pointed out through a video speech that film has always been a brand promoted by Hong Kong and a leading industry in the entrepreneurial industry.

The local film festival has films from 58 countries and regions around the world, showing that the Hong Kong film platform absorbs different voices from the world.

He emphasized that the support and support of the SAR government to the film industry will remain as before.

　　The opening film of this year’s film festival "The Band of Seven" can be described as much-anticipated. It is led by Johnnie To, with six senior local directors including Sammo Hung, Anhua Hui, Tan Jiaming, Tsui Hark, Yuan Heping and Lin Lingdong. They shoot in their own unique styles with different A short film with Hong Kong as the background of the era, the ensemble presents a Hong Kong story full of emotions.

And their cooperation is also rich in the meaning passed down, which inspires the younger generation to continue to insist on film creation.

(Finish)