[July 10, 2009 – Hong Kong] Presented by the Hong Kong International Film Festival Society (HKIFFS), the annual Summer International Film Festival (Summer IFF; Website: www.summeriff.org.hk) this year will be held from August 5 (Wed) to September 7 (Mon), 2009. Featuring diverse programming from around the globe, including award-winners, innovative independent films, controversial documentaries and indisputable classics, Summer IFF sets the stage for some of the most highly anticipated films of the year, with 37 titles from 15 countries and regions and 73 screenings in total, to inspire interest in the art and culture of film among the younger audience.

Stylish thriller Vengeance, which competed for the prestigious Palme D'Or at the 62nd Cannes Film Festival, is the Opening Film of Summer IFF 2009, which is also the film’s Asia premiere, while the American romantic comedy (500) Days of Summer has been selected as the Closing Film of the Festival.

Directed by acclaimed director Johnnie TO, Vengeance stars an international ensemble cast including Veteran French rocker Johnny HALLYDAY, French actress, two times Cesar-winner Sylvie TESTUD, together with TO’s regulars Anthony WONG, Simon YAM, LAM Suet and LAM Ka-tung for a journey into the dark heart of revenge.

Directed by the up-and-coming filmmaker Marc WEBB, (500) Days of Summer has been selected as the Opening Film of 2009 Locarno Film Festival and premiered at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival. Starring Joseph GORDON-LEVITT, one of the hottest young stars in the indie firmament, as well as Zooey DESCHANEL and Geoffrey AREND, this delightful film jumps and twists through postmodern romance, bursting out into song-and-dance, reflection and transformations of expectations, thus is destined to be a template for the future of romantic inspiration.

The Summer IFF 2009 presents the hottest movies premiered or competed in major international film festivals including the Cannes, Berlin, Sundance, Locarno, etc., with a line- up of world-class directors and stars. To name just a few, Claude CHABROL’s first-time cooperation with Gerard DEPARDIEU; Jim JARMUSCH, the most adventurous and arresting filmmaker to surface in the American independent cinema, presents his latest absurdist comedy; the Golden Globe winning English actor Clive OWEN starring in a paranoid political thriller; popular Korean star KWONE Sang-woo drew inspiration of playing melodramatic parts from his own and recent marriage; Isabelle ADJANI’s return to the cinema after a half-decade; first-time screen appearance in the role of an actor by famed Taiwanese director TSAI Ming-liang; Sam Mendes, the Oscar Best Director winner presents his most recently comedy and many more.

Apart from contemporary movies, the Festival also pays tribute to classic films and filmmakers of yesteryear. Two Taiwanse classics A City of Sadness and A Brighter Summer Day have been revived recently and the new or restored prints will be premiered at the Summer IFF. In remembrance of the film master from Japan ICHIKAWA Jun and the renowned producer Wouter BARENDRECHT, movie goers and film lovers should not miss their most representative works.


For details of the films and the seminars, please refer to the attached fact sheet.

Tickets will be available at URBTIX from July 17, 2009 (Fri).

The Summer IFF 2009 is proudly sponsored by Sony Entertainment Television.

Summer IFF Website: www.summeriff.org.hk (activated on July 17, 2009)

About Hong Kong International Film Festival Society Limited

Uniting the World through Film

The Hong Kong International Film Festival Society (HKIFFS) is a charitable, non-profit and non-governmental organization dedicated to the discovery and promotion of creativity in the art and culture of film.

Through its year-round programmes, the vision of the Society is to strengthen the appreciation of Chinese film culture to the world and to promote inspiring films from around the globe, enriching the cultural life of Hong Kong.

Committed to the development of a vibrant film culture in Asia, the Society organizes three annual marquee events in March each year: The Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF), the Asian Film Awards (AFA) and the Hong Kong-Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF).

Passionately believing in the power of films to unite cultures and generations, the HKIFFS is devoted to giving thousands of film lovers around the region direct access to the world’s most inspired films all year round.

Website: www.hkiff.org.hk


About the Summer International Film Festival 2009 (Summer IFF)

Launched in 2006, the Summer International Film Festival (Summer IFF) premieres new films with an added appeal to the younger audience. The screenings of over 30 titles from August through September, encourages early interest in the arts for the youth and continue to develop new audiences for the HKIFF. Enlightening many that quality films of artistic integrity can also be a lot of fun, the Summer IFF never fails to pack its cinemas.

The Summer IFF 2009 will be held from August 5 (Wed) to September 7 (Mon), 2009.

Website: www.summeriff.org.hk (activated on July 17, 2009)