Hong Kong actor Andy Lau will invest another 25 million Hong Kong dollars in his program to support up and coming new directors across Asia.

 

 

 

The program has already helped six directors finish shooting independent productions since it kicked off last year.

 

Andy Lau told Asia Weekly that the second lot of funds will be used to select and fund productions for six more promising young directors.

 

Some of the films funded by the program have already gained commercial success and critical acclaim.

 

The Shoe Fairy by Li Yunchan won a Golden Horse Award for Best Art Direction last year, while Ninghao's Crazy Stone topped all other domestic productions in the box office, raking in more than 17 million yuan so far.

 

(CRI August 9, 2006)