Hong Kong composer, Peter Kam, won the Silver Bear award for his
score of the film Isabella at the 56th Berlin Film
Festival which ended on Saturday.
Mr. Kam told Hong Kong media on Sunday that his win was
completely unexpected and he was hugely excited about the
award.
In a telephone interview with a Hong Kong radio station Mr Kam
explained the story of Isabella was set in Macao. So
when composing the film music he added recognizable Portuguese
sounds. This made the score different from the music accompanying
many other Hong Kong-made movies.
He thanked film director Peter Chan Ho Sun for getting him
involved in the project and also made mention of his own composing
abilities. Mr Kam said he hoped international film producers would
give local musicians more opportunities to compose for Hong
Kong-related movies.
In recent times, Mr Kam (44), who studied music in the United
States, has won several Hong Kong Film Awards. His music for the
films Fly Me to Polaris and Lost in Time won the
Best Original Film Score at the 19th and 23rd Hong Kong Film
Awards. His music for the film Perhaps Love won a
nomination for the Best Original Film Score and Best Original Film
Song of the 25th Hong Kong Film Awards, details of which will be
unveiled soon.
Isabella tells the story of the reunion of a Macao
police officer with his lost daughter. A film focusing on Bosnia's
post-war trauma won top prize -- the Golden Bear for the best
film -- at the Festival.
(Xinhua News Agency February 20, 2006)