“Love in Macau” premiere’s in Beijing

The movie “Love in Macau”, supported of Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO), premiered today in Beijing before touring the country’s cinemas to show Chinese audiences Macau’s architectural beauty and its rich history. Deputy director of MGTO, Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, attended the gala premiere of the movie, held at the Great Hall of the People. To her, the movie is good medium to help promote Macau on the Mainland, the biggest source of visitors for Macau. “The movie will allow more people to know Macau. Cinema is another way to display the distinct beauty of Macau that mixes Chinese and Portuguese cultures,” said MGTO deputy director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes. For Macau born director Chen Yi Feng, the movie showcases one of Macau’s more intense epochs, during the 1940 years. “I have a very strong emotional relationship with Macau, since I was born here. I hope to give something valuable to Macau with this movie and be able to show these very rich and moving times of the territory’s history”, pointed out Chen Yi Feng. During the ensuing weeks, the director and actors will promote “Love in Macau” throughout several cities on the Mainland, before opening the movie in Macau and Hong Kong, on a date still to be confirmed. Several sites of the Historic Centre of Macau, designated as World Heritage by UNESCO, serve as the scenery for the story, taking place during the II World War, when Macau became a safe haven, due to its neutrality during the conflict. The Ruins of St Paul’s, Dom Pedro V Theatre, St Joseph’s Seminary and Church as well as other historic buildings of Macau make the backdrop for the leading characters: a reporter and a direct descendent of the imperial family, that would be a princess if the Qing Dynasty had not been overthrown. Hong Kong stars Alex Fong and Stephy Tang, along with Chinese Manchu actress Aixin Jueluoqixing, interpret the main roles. Mainland China is on of MGTO’s priority markets for promotional campaigns. Since 2003, the Mainland became Macau’s number one source market, overtaking Hong Kong. Last year, among the 18 million visitors that came to Macau, ten million or 56 per cent were from the Mainland, a growth of ten per cent over the year before.