Two Hong Kong films are set to open and close one of the leading film festivals in Italy in August 2005 - the 62nd Venice International Film Festival. 

Tsui Hark's $140 million martial arts epic Seven Swords, which opens in Hong Kong 29 July 2005, will launch the Venice Film Festival on 31 August 2005, while Peter Chan Ho-sun's musical Perhaps Love will close the curtains on this Festival.

Speaking with reporters at the Hong Kong South China Morning Post, an excited Mr. Chan said that this is a monumental occasion for Hong Kong and Chinese films and a rare privilege.

Nansun Shi, Executive Director of Seven Swords production company, Film Workshop, also told reporters that the Festival's emphasis on Asian cinema was wonderful.

Hong Kong film Everlasting Regret, directed by Stanley Kwan Kam-pang will add to the Hong Kong line-up by competing for the Golden Lion, the Festival's top award, running head-to-head with Korean director Park Chan-wook's latest film Sympathy for Lady Vengeance.

(HKfilmart August 3, 2005)