Hong Kong hit “ Four Trails ” obtained an outing in the United Kingdom, opens the Odyssey festival
The documentary by Hong Kong “Four Trails” obtained a British theatrical distribution through the NGO Uk-China film Collab and will open the annual Film Odyssey festival in London on September 15.
The film, which tells the story of one of the most exhausting adventure challenges in Hong Kong, has become a box office phenomenon, winning nearly $ 11 million HK (1.4 million dollars) to become the second most profitable documentary in the history of cinema in Hong Kong.
Directed by Robin Lee, born in Hong Kong, and produced by his brother Ben Lee, “Four Trails” follows the participants in an ultra-marathon challenge created by Andre Blumberg in 2012. The event forces runners to finish the four ultra-founded trails of Hong Kong-totaling 298 kilometers with an elevation gain of 14,500 meters, which is the height of the mountain.
The challenge does not offer or medals, with participants considered to be finishers if they finish the course in less than 60 hours or survivors if they are finished in 72 hours. During its 14 years of history, only 104 participants finished the event, making it one of the most difficult ultra-marathons in the world.
The Hong Kong superstar, Chow Yun-Fat, praised the film, declaring: “Each Hong Konger should watch this film.”
The documentary has earned Robin Lee the prize for the best new director and a nomination for the best editing of swept films at 43rd Hong Kong Film Awards. He also received a special prize from the Executive Committee of Hong Kong Directors Guild, Merit Film of Hong Kong Film Critics Society and the public at the 21st Asian Film Festival in Hong Kong.
Nikki Han, the first woman to become a finisher, thought about her experience: “What I won during these many hours on the trails will remain with me forever. They are with me every day. They are the trophy.”
The documentary played in international festivals, including the Shanghai International Film Festival and the Fair-East Film Festival in Udine, Italy, with projections to come to the Golden Horse Film Festival in Taipei. Additional appearances of the festival took place in Adélaïde, Beijing, Boulder, Melbourne, New York and Toronto, with other projections planned for Bangkok, Berlin, Kuala Lumpur, London, London, Paris, Seoul, Taipei and Tokyo.
“Four Trails” is planned for the theater release in Singapore and will open the Odyssey Film Festival based in the United Kingdom, which focuses on the creation of dialogues between the British film industries and the Grand China. This year’s festival theme is “sports”.
“We are delighted that Robin accepted our invitation because” Four Trails “is the perfect film to open the festival,” said Hiu Man Chan, artistic director of Odyssey.
The festival opens on September 15 with “Four Trails” at the Everyman, Broadgate cinema. NGO UK-CHINA FILM COLLAB, The company behind the previous outings, including “The Six”, “LUST, Award” UK Re-Release, and “The sinking of Lisbon Maru”, will manage the British theatrical distribution of the film with an initial release date set for October 30.
