Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Toronto)

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Toronto) (HKETO) supported the second edition of the Kung Fu Film Festival (Festival), which has presented seven screenings of martial arts movies in Richmond Hill and Scarborough May 30 and 31 to celebrate Hong Kong’s kung fu cinema heritage and its influence on global film culture.

To mark the opening of the film festival, the HKETO hosted an opening ceremony in Richmond Hill on May 30 with the presence of the President of the Canada Hong Kong Intercultural Association and the Festival Chair, Ms Connie Yu; Secretary Manager of the Southern Film Culture Foundation and the Festival Curator Ms Catherine Lam; the Consul-General of the People’s Republic of China in Toronto, Mr Luo Weidong; Senator Mr Woo Yuen-pau and about 50 guests from the local film, cultural and business communities.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Director of the HKETO, Mr Bill Wong, remarked that the HKETO is committed not only to strengthening economic ties between Hong Kong and Canada but also to deepening people-to-people connections through arts and culture.

He said, “Through these films, we bring entertainment to Canadian audiences and also show that kung fu is not only about action on screen - it is also about respect, perseverance, and character. These are values that Hong Kong embraces.”

The two-day festival curated a selection of seven Hong Kong martial arts films, namely “The Shadow’s Edge”, “The Way of the Dragon”, “Ip Man 4”, “Stuntman”, “Born to Defence”, “Blades of the Guardians”, and “I Am What I Am 2”.