The organisers ofHong Kong's first ever Entertainment Expo (March 22 - April 6) have unveiledthe 28 projects that will participate in the Hong Kong-Asia Film FinancingForum (HAF), one of eight events to take place during the 16-day film andentertainment mega event.

Among thefilmmakers that will be presenting projects at the three-day financing market(March 22-24) are high-profile directors such as Hong Kong's Ann Hui, China'sJiang Wen and Thailand's Pen-ek Ratanaruang.

South Korea isalso strongly represented with projects from Park Kwang-su, Song Il-gon and LeeYoon-ki. Casting its net wide across the Asian region, the HAF line-up alsoincludes projects from Iran, Indonesia, Singapore, the Philippines and Japan.

According to HAFhonorary advisor Albert Lee, the list was whittled down from more than 200entries: "We were staggered with the response and the standard was generallyvery high. We think these projects will be able to achieve a high-profilethrough HAF, not only in Asia, but among international investors as well."

Fortissimo Films'Wouter Barendrecht, who is also serving as honorary advisor, added: "Thisyear's selection offers considerable variety in terms of style, budget andgenre, from both newcomers and well established filmmakers, appealing to anassortment of tastes."

HAF, which is noworganised jointly by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (TDC) and industrybody the MPIA, is returning after a four-year hiatus. Although the inauguralHAF - held in 2000 - was a big success, the market didn't return the followingyear partly due to difficulties in securing government funding. It almost madea comeback in 2003 but was cancelled at the eleventh hour because of SARS.

In addition toHAF, the Entertainment Expo features seven other film and music eventsincluding film and TV market FILMART 2005 (March 22-24); the Hong KongInternational Film Festival; the Hong Kong Film Awards; the IFPI Hong Kong TopSales Music Award; the Hong Kong Independent Short Film & Video Awards; theHong Kong Digital Entertainment Excellence Awards and the Digital EntertainmentLeadership Forum,

FILMART, whichhas moved from its traditional slot in June, is hoping to fill the gap in theinternational film market calendar vacated by the AFM. "This is very good timingfor us. We expect a big increase in the number of visitors from Europe and theUS," said TDC director, service promotion Raymond Yip.

Hong Kong -Asia Film Financing Forum 2005

1. At The World's End (Hong Kong)
Dir/prod: Ann HUI On Wah
Production Company: Class Limited

2. A Beautiful Mine (Meung Rae) (Thailand)
Dir: Jira Maligool. Prod: Yongyoot Thongkongtoon
Production Company: Gmm Tai Hub Company Limited

3. Bluebird (Paraneh Abi) (Iran)
Dir/prod: Hassan Yektapanah
Production Company: Yekta Film

4. Camera Obscura (The Philippines)
Dir/prod: Raymond Red
Production Company: Mistulang Pelikula Film Production

5. The Circle (Hong Kong)
Dirs: Wong Ching Po, YIP Lim Sum. Prods: YIP Lim Sum, Sandy YIP Wai Shan
Production Company: Red Flag Production Limited
Co-production Company: Heat Creative Workshop

6. The Coffin (Thailand)
Dir: Ekachai Uekrongtham. Prod: Pantham Thongsang
Production Company: TIFA (Thailand), Spicy Apple Films (Singapore)

7. Dark Heart Of Man (Hong Kong)
Dir/prod: William Kwok Wai Lun
Production Company: FilmSARS Limited

8. Dragon Tiger Gate (Hong Kong)
Dir: Wilson YIP Wai Shun. Prod: Raymond Wong Pak Ming
Production Company: Mandarin Films Limited

9. Erotica Taboo (Se Chieh) (Chinese mainland/Taiwan)
Dir: Liu Fen Dou. Prod: Peggy Chiao Xiong Ping
Production Company: Arc Light Films

10. The Hong Kong Butcher Witnesses Our Love (Hong Kong)
Dir: Chan Khan. Prod: Stephen Shin Kei Yin
Production Company: Show Biz (Asia) Limited

11. In Your Eyes (South Korea)
Dir: Park Kwang-Su. Prod: Choi Soo-Young
Production Company: I Film Company Limited

12. Innocent Sin (Yagate Umareizuruki) (Japan)
Dir: Isao Yukisada. Prod: Hilo Iizumi
Production Company: Grasshoppa! Film

13. Invisible Waves (Thailand)
Dir: Pen-ek Ratanaruang. Prod: Wouter Barendrecht
Production Company: Fortissimo Film Sales (HK)

14. I-Sheet (Hong Kong)
Dir: Lo Chi Leung. Prod: Cheung Chi Kwong
Production Company: Classmates Productions Limited

15. Kingdom Of Fire (Chinese mainland/Hong Kong)
Dir: Xiao Jiang. Prod: John Shum Kin Fun
Production Company: Beijing Dadi Century Limited

16. Knife (Kal) (South Korea)
Dir: Song Il-gon. Prods: OH Jung-wan, Eugene Lee
Production Company: Bom Film Productions

17. Little Woman (Chinese mainland)
Dir/prod: Jiang Wen
Production Company: Beijing Bu Yi Le Hu Culture and Communication Limited

18. Love For Share (Berbagi Suami)(Indonesia)
Dir: Nia Dinata. Prods: Constantin Papadimitriou, Claude Kunetz
Production Company: Kalyana Shira Film

19. Love Talk (South Korea)
Dir: Lee Yoon-ki. Prod: Lee Seung-jae
Production Company: LJ Film Company Limited

20. The Marriage Celebrant (Hong Kong)
Dir/prod: Barbara Wong Chun Chun
Production Company: Endless Entertainment Inc

21. Marriage Proposal (Hong Kong)
Dir: Pang Ho Cheung. Prod: Roger Garcia
Production Company: Making Film Production Limited

22. McDull, The Alumni (Hong Kong)
Dir: Samson Chiu Leung Chun. Prods: Peter Chan Ho Sun, Brian Tse Lap Man
Production Company: Applause Pictures Limited
Co-production Company: Bliss Concepts Limited

23. My Brother, My Sister (Chinese mainland)
Dir/prod: Zhu Wen
Production Company: China Film Assist Production Company

24. Odd Game (Hong Kong)
Dir: Vincci Cheuk. Prod: Jeff Lau Chun Wai
Production Company: Commercial Radio Productions Limited

25. Pulling Faces (Singapore/Japan)
Dir: Sandi Tan. Prod: Hisami Kuroiwa
Production Company: Media Space, Inc.

26. The Rape of Nanking (Chinesemainland)
Dir: Lu Chuan. Prod: Tian Zhuang Zhuang
Production Company: Lu Chuan Film Studio

27. Red Bickle (Chinese mainland)
Dir: Ning Hao. Prod: Lan Rui Long
Production Company: Ning Hao Gong Zuo Shi

28. The Tree of Destiny (Chinese mainland)
Dir: Lou Ye. Prod: Nai An
Production Company: Dream Factory