BEIJING Dec 8 - The latest ``Infernal Affairs'' movie is set in Hong Kong and was filmed there, but makers of the dark crime epic are premiering it in China.
Producers of ``Infernal Affairs 3,'' which stars Andy Lau and Tony Leung, hope targeting China's bigger audience will boost its chances, said Y.C. Chu, deputy general manager of Media Asia Films.
``Everyone is looking at China these days,'' Chu said before a gala premiere Monday evening at the Great Hall of the People - the seat of China's legislature.
The first ``Infernal Affairs'' was Hong Kong's top box office draw of 2002. It is credited with sparking a revival in a struggling Hong Kong film industry.
Facing Hollywood competition and rampant video piracy, Hong Kong studios are increasingly turning to China for lower-cost production and the mainland's vast audience.
Beijing was picked for the ``Infernal Affairs 3'' premiere because ``it's natural to focus on China,'' Chu said. ``It enlarges the market for Hong Kong.''
Lau, Leung and their co-stars - Kelly Chen, Leon Lai, Anthony Wong and Chapman To - were on hand for the premiere.
Lau, Chen and Lai are Hong Kong pop stars. Leung is best known as co-star of the 2000 art-house hit, ``In the Mood for Love.''
Lau said the movie's main strength was its star-studded cast, prompting laughter from Chinese reporters by paying himself a compliment.
The movie-makers ``pick actors who they know are suited to the roles,'' he said.
Also, ``a lot of movies aren't very smartly made, but this movie was made conscientiously,'' said Lai. The movie shows that ``all people are complicated. There are no simple characters.''
``Infernal Affairs 3'' is to be released throughout Asia on Friday following gala debuts in Hong Kong on Tuesday, Singapore on Thursday and Taiwan on Friday.
Its makers say the third installment is the last.
But ``it's not impossible'' there might be more, Lau said. ``The spirit of Infernal Affairs could continue.'' - AP
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