Sundream MotionPictures, the film production arm of Hong Kongcable operator i-Cable, has lined up veteran actionstar Sammo Hung to direct big-budget period epic Howling Arrow.

Scheduled to shoot from September, the film follows acommunity of gangsters at the end of the Qing dynastyin North-East China, at the turnof the 20th Century.

According to Sundream president Tsui Siu-ming, the film will bebudgeted at the same level as Sundream's $16mpan-Asian co-production Battle Of Wits.

"We aim to capture some of the unique characteristics of Hong Kong movies," Tsui told Screen. "Thestyle of martial arts action design will be very realistic without heavy use ofspecial effects."

The film is one of six that Sundreamplans to produce in 2006. Also on the company's slate is contemporary actionadventure Let's Steal Together, aboutseveral gangs of thieves chasing a religious relic.The film will be the directorial debut of renowned action director Kong To-hoiwho recently worked on Sundream horror title 49 Days.

Meanwhile, the company's next production will be comedy Fist Of Lovebased around a popular drinking game in Hong Kongbars. Lam Wah-chuen (Runaway Pistol) is directing the film from the end of April. Sundream is also developing docudrama Kindersoldier, about aneight-year-old child who gets dragged into war.

Sundream launched at Filmart last year and has an output deal with Bill Kong's Edko Films which handles Hong Kong theatrical distribution of its slate. Since launching thecompany has produced 49 Days, Yau Nai Hoi'sEye In The Skyand co-produced Battle Of Wits.