This file photo taken on Sept 6, 2014 shows Hong Kong director Ann Hui posing during the photocall of the movie The Golden Era presented at the 71st Venice Film Festival at Venice Lido.
(GABRIEL BOUYS / AFP)
HONG KONG - Hong Kong director Ann Hui On-wah will be honored with the Golden Lion lifetime achievement award at this year's Venice International Film Festival, becoming the first Chinese female director to be bestowed the honor.
Hui, 73, is "one of the best female directors in Asia" and "one of the key figures in the Hong Kong New Wave film movement" from the late 1970s and 1980s, the festival said in a statement.
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Hong Kong Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Edward Yau Tang-wah congratulated Hui in a statement issued on Tuesday.
"Ann Hui is a pioneer of Hong Kong and Asian cinemas of our time. The award is in recognition of her exceptional contribution to the film industry. We take pride in her achievement in successfully showcasing to international audiences the top-notch, exquisite and sensational Hong Kong film productions through her unique film language and visual style," Yau said in the statement.
The Venice International Film Festival is one of the largest international festivals. Its 77th edition will be held in Venice, Italy in September this year.
British actress Tilda Swinton will also receive the lifetime achivement award at this year's event.
Previous lifetime achievement awardees include Hong Kong director John Woo Yu-sen, American director Steven Spielberg and English actress Julie Andrews.
Yau said that the local film industry has been facing acute challenges in the past year.
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To re-energize Hong Kong films, the government has earmarked around HK$260 million under the Film Development Fund to implement measures to increase the number of local film productions, nurture young directors and scriptwriting talents and enhance professional training to add value to the industry.
