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programmes at performing venues, the Community Cultural Ambassador Scheme which reached out to the public and the District Cantonese Opera Parade organised to promote Cantonese opera at the community level.
The Cultural Services Volunteers Scheme, encouraged members of the public to make better use of their leisure time to perform voluntary work in promoting arts and culture. Some 2 000 volunteers were recruited under the scheme.
Film and Video Programmes
The film and video programmes, presented either solely by the LCSD or jointly with local consulate offices, cultural and film institutions, continued to provide a variety of film selections for the public. In addition, film programmes from the Mainland, South Africa, the Czech Republic, Brazil, Australia, France and Latin American countries were presented to enhance the diversity of programmes and to promote cultural exchange. To enable children and young people to develop an interest in film, the International Children's Film Carnival, being part of the International Arts Carnival, provided a series of film screenings and video workshops.
To support major local film events, venue sponsorship were given to the annual Hong Kong International Film Festival and Hong Kong Film Awards Presentation Ceremony. Funding and venue support were also given to the Hong Kong Arts Centre for organising the annual Hong Kong Independent Short Film and Video Awards to encourage creative independent productions of short film and video.
Cultural Events
Hong Kong Arts Festival
Held annually in February and March, the Hong Kong Arts Festival is the most important international festival in Asia and has become highly regarded worldwide since it began in 1973. With a fine array of performers taking part, the 2004 festival attracted over 93 700 audience who attended 112 performances, with an average attendance of 87 per cent.
Hong Kong International Film Festival
Presented by the Hong Kong Arts Development Council, the 28th Hong Kong International Film Festival offered a wide range of programmes over a 16-day period. Altogether, 347 films from over 40 countries were showcased under special topics such as Director in Focus, Indie Power and Hong Kong Panorama (2003-04). Seminars, forums and exhibitions were also held. In addition, the Hong Kong Film Archive contributed classics of Cantonese melodrama in the 1950s and 60s.
The Festival continued to present a number of awards, namely the FIPRESCI (International Film Critics Federation) Award, Firebird Awards for Young Cinema, Asian DV Competition and Humanitarian Awards for Documentaries, and the latest addition SIGNIS Award.
International Arts Carnival
The LCSD presented the six-week International Arts Carnival in summer to provide children, youth and families of Hong Kong with cultural programmes and