Hong Kong star Andy Lau flewinto Taiwan yesterday with three directors to promote the first production inhis Focus: First Cuts project, six features shot on HD in collaborationwith Star Chinese Movies Network.Lau's company Focus Films will oversee the series' production andinternational sales.

Announced at Hong Kong'sFilMart in March, the films bring together some of the most promising youngdirectors in the region: China's Ning Hao, Malaysia's Ho Yuhang, Singapore'sKelvin Tong, Taiwan's Robin Lee and Hong Kong's Wong Ching-po, Lee Kung-lok andLam Tze-chung.

Ho Yuhang, Lee Kung-lok andLam Tze-chung joined Andy Lau on stage at today's press conference where it wasannounced that all six films would be post-produced in Taiwan at the TaipeiMotion Picture Corp (TMPC). Withhalf of Taiwan's feature film production shot on HD in recent years, TMPC havebeen working with the format for four years.

The Taiwan episode, TheShoe Fairy, which began shooting yesterday, is directed and written by Robin Lee,winner of the Best Short Film at the 2004 Golden Horse Film Awards with TheMagical Wash Machine. Thefilm mixes fairytale imagery and computer graphics in the love story between awoman, her new husband and her collection of shoes.

The film stars Taiwanese idolVivian Hsu, best known internationally for her role in Jackie Chan's TheAccidental Spy, returning to local cinema after a six year absence. Her co-star is Hong Kong actor Duncan,soon to be seen in Tsui Hark's Venice-opener Seven Swords.

Three Dots Entertainment isproducing for Focus Films in Taiwan.Currently in post-production on horror The Heirloom, they beginshooting Catch (previously known as The Extra Zone) in July, anaction-comedy from the director and star of their inaugural production, Formula17.

The next Focus: First Cutsfeature to enter production will be Lam Tze-chung's I'll Call U in early August,with all six films expected to be shot by year end.