Hong Kong's Galas Galore

Monday's gala cocktail reception at the Convention + Exhibition Center in Hong Kong marked the official launch of the 31st Hong Kong Intl. Film Festival. Or maybe it was the official pre-launch. Or simply one of the official launches.

Even organizers can be forgiven if they're confused, because the umbrella title Entertainment Expo, which kicks off this week, encompasses nine simultaneous events, including the fest (which runs a mind-boggling 23 days), the four-day FilMart (a market that starts on Tuesday), the Digital Entertainment Leadership Forum, a music confab, an Asian film-finance powwow, etc.

The goal is to make Hong Kong the place to be, to establish its reputation as the center of the very hot Asian entertainment industry.

Monday's cocktail party gave plenty of evidence that the plan is working. The gathering of 300 people featured filmmakers, distributors, buyers and plenty of media members, with a multitude of languages being spoken indicating that the world is indeed keeping its eye on Asian showbiz. The event was held on a mezzanine at the convention center, with the guests huddled in an area next to the theater where "Eye in the Sky" was about to be screened.

The film's producer, Siu Ming Tsui, and director, Nai-Hoi Yau, spoke briefly to the crowd, and the horde of paparazzi went into high gear when the two were joined by the film's stars, Kate Tsui and Simon Yam, and Johnnie To, the director who served as co-producer of "Eye." The crowd then went into the screening and presumably went home to rest up for the endless parade of gala launches that will ensue this week.

Oh, and lest there be any confusion, Tuesday's Asian Film Awards in Hong Kong are not to be confused with the Hong Kong Film Awards, which are coming up in April. They are sure to be galas. (T. Gray)