Sundance Film Festival launches Hong Kong Selects screening series

The Sundance Institute is expanding its international footprint with Sundance Festival — Hong Kong Selects, a screening series of new American independent films to be accompanied by a delegation of filmmakers and festival organizers, the group announced late Thursday night.

The inaugural event will be held across two weekends from Sept. 19 to 28 at the newly opened Metroplex in Kowloon Bay and will feature the Hong Kong premieres of eight films from this year’s Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, which took place in January.

The Hong Kong Selects program will be announced in mid-August.

John Cooper, director of the Sundance Film Festival, said in a statement, “In our effort to share the best of American independent film with audiences outside the U.S., Hong Kong seemed an excellent location with a rich cinematic history. In partnership with the Metroplex, we look forward to presenting a program of diverse and high-quality American independent films.”

Sundance’s foray into Hong Kong gives the Robert Redford-led institute a foothold adjacent to the world’s second-largest film market in mainland China. It also follows the establishment of Sundance London, first held in 2012, and Sundance Next Fest, which began last year in Los Angeles and returns Aug. 7.

Follow @ogettell for movie news