ENG-2001 — Page 480

RECREATION, SPORT AND THE ARTS

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integrating arts into the school curriculum, was organised with the Exploration Theatre.

The department also launched a new project, the 'School Culture Day Pilot Scheme', which was aimed at broadening young people's vision, developing their interest in arts and fostering their creativity. Thirty primary, secondary and special schools had been selected to participate. Under the scheme, students visit performing arts venues, museums and libraries during school hours to take part in programmes specially designed for them.

Hong Kong International Film Festival

The annual Hong Kong International Film Festival, held in March/April, is one of the world's major non-competitive film festivals. The 25th festival in 2001 was co- presented with the Hong Kong Arts Development Council. During the festival, 225 films from more than 45 countries were presented, and attracted a total audience of 199 110.

Apart from screening of films, a number of extension activities were held during the festival, including exhibitions, seminars, forums, student previews, outdoor film shows, independent film-makers' gatherings and meet-the-directors sessions. The topic of the retrospective section organised by the Hong Kong Film Archive as a contribution to the festival was A Century of Chinese Cinema: Look Back in Glory. The festival also presented the FIPRESCI (International Film Critics Federation) Award to commend quality films from new Asian directors. The award was shared by director Yan Yan Mak's Ge Ge and Bong Joon-ho's Barking Dogs Never Bite.

Hong Kong Independent Short Film and Video Awards

Jointly presented with the Hong Kong Arts Centre, the annual competition aims to encourage creative non-commercial independent productions of short film and video in Hong Kong and to promote public interest in film and video as artistic communicative and expressive media.

Film and Video Programmes

The film and video programmes presented either solely by the department, or jointly with cultural institutes such as the Goethe Institut, the British Council, Alliance Francaise de Hong Kong, Ying e Chi, Videotage and various film companies, continued to provide variety of alternative film programmes to the public.

Cultural Events

Hong Kong Arts Festival

Held annually in February and March, the Hong Kong Arts Festival is the most. important international festival in the Far East and has become highly regarded world-wide since it began in 1973. With a fine array of performers taking part, the 2001 festival sold over 101 200 tickets in 107 performances, with the average attendance exceeding 90 per cent and box office income reaching a record figure. The programme included the Los Angeles Opera's production of La Cenerentola (Cinderella), cellist Yo-yo Ma and the Orchestra della Toscana, famed dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov and the White Oak Dance Project, viola virtuoso Yuri Bashmet and the Moscow Soloists, Emerson String Quartet from the United States, Buena

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