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Chinese Films Shine at TIFF 2023 and Alibaba Pictures Participates in Promoting Multiple Overseas Masterpieces

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 20 October 2023 – The 36th Tokyo International Film Festival (“TIFF 2023”) will open on October 23. The organizers previously announced that Chinese director Gu Xiaogang has garnered the “2023 Kurosawa Akira Award”, and Chinese actress Zhao Tao will serve as a fellow juror under the International Competition Jury section. Several Chinese films, including “Dwelling by the West Lake” (草木人間), “Snow Leopard” (雪豹), “A Long Shot” (老槍) and “Fly Me to the Moon” (但願人長久), have been shortlisted, reflecting the significant presence of Chinese-language films and filmmakers at this year’s festival.

Alibaba Pictures Group Limited (“Alibaba Pictures” or the “Company”, HKEX: 1060), a leading Internet film and television company in China under the Alibaba Digital Media and Entertainment Group, not only boasts robust production capabilities but also excels in film promotion. The Company has effectively supported the promotion of numerous Japanese films, achieving remarkable success in the Chinese film market.

In addition to the competition films, the Chinese Film Week hosted by TIFF 2023 has also generated great anticipation among film fans. It is worth noting that films such as “Lost in the Stars” (消失的她), “Chang An” (長安三萬里), and “One and Only” (熱烈) have achieved both significant box office revenue and positive word-of-mouth in China this year, with Alibaba Pictures involved in their production. The film “All Ears” (不虛此行), invested by Alibaba Pictures, has also been shortlisted under the World Focus section of TIFF 2023.

Japanese films have had a significant impact on the Chinese film market this year, with animated films such as “Suzume” (鈴芽之旅), “Slam Dunk” (男兒當入樽), “Castle in the Sky” (天空之城) and “Doraemon: Stand by Me 2” (哆啦A夢:伴我同行2), all surpassing RMB100 million in box office revenue. Thanks to the marketing campaign by Road Pictures and the distribution capabilities of Alibaba Pictures and Road Pictures, “Suzume” broke the first-day box office record for animated films in China and ultimately grossed over RMB800 million in box office revenue, becoming the highest-grossing romantic film of the year. It also surpassed the previous box office record of a Japanese film in China, held by Makoto Shinkai’s “Your Name” (RMB575 million).

Previously, Alibaba Pictures has been involved in the marketing and promotion of numerous classic overseas films with diverse themes. As early as 2017, Alibaba Pictures strategically collaborated with Amblin Entertainment on “A Dog’s Purpose” (為了與你相遇), breaking the box office record for pet-themed films in the Chinese film market.

In 2019, the film “Green Book” (綠簿旅友) won three major awards at the Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay and Best Supporting Actor. Alibaba Pictures, as an investor in the film, became the first Internet film and television company globally to produce an Oscar-winning Best Picture.

As a co-producer of the film, Alibaba Pictures accurately predicted the market value of this film. After “Green Book” won the awards, Alibaba Pictures immediately introduced it to the Chinese market. The deep friendship between the two main characters in the film transcending cultural differences touched many Chinese audiences. Thanks to Alibaba Pictures’ marketing and distribution capabilities, “Green Book” became a dark horse, grossing RMB478 million at the box office in China and receiving a high rating of 8.9 on Douban.

In the same year, “Capernaum” (星仔打官司) a Lebanese art film introduced by China Film Group, received a tailored marketing strategy from Road Pictures to highlight emotional resonance. It targeted the Chinese audience’s interest in the topic of the original family and relied on high-quality preview screenings to generate word-of-mouth. It also leveraged platforms like Douyin (TikTok) to generate buzz and discussion around the film.

By leveraging the nationwide distribution capability of Alibaba Pictures, and measures such as strategic scheduling and precisely targeted screenings by both Road Pictures and Alibaba Pictures, the campaign successfully helped this niche film transcend the boundaries of the film audience. Despite being released around the same time as “Avengers: Endgame” (復仇者聯盟4), it achieved impressive results with a box office of RMB376 million and a high rating of 9.1 on Douban.

Not only does Alibaba Pictures excel in the promotion of new films, they also re-introduced a growing stable of overseas classic films to the big screen.

In 2019, the Italian classic film “The Legend of 1900” (聲光伴我飛), jointly marketed and promoted by Hishow Entertainment and Alibaba Pictures, re-released in China and achieved a box office of RMB143 million. The 4K high definition restored version also received positive reviews from fans. In 2021, Star Alliance Movies and Alibaba Pictures collaborated to bring the film “Love Letter” back to Chinese audiences after a 22-year absence from the screen. They chose to release it on May 20 (China’s Valentine’s Day), satisfying the audience’s demand for romantic films and ultimately grossing over RMB65 million at the box office.

For the classic and niche Japanese film “Departures” (禮儀師之奏鳴曲), Alibaba Pictures planned a series of short video marketing campaigns, including interviews with funeral professionals, post-screening audience story sharing, and “Heavenly Messages Interaction” through platforms like Douyin, which are popular among young audiences, to convey the film’s social issues and humanistic sentiments.

Through an innovative marketing perspective, the film “Departures” achieved remarkable success on Douyin, garnering over 1.2 billion views, receiving more than 26 million official likes, and surpassing industry expectations with a total box office of over RMB60 million.

In the field of international documentary film promotion, Alibaba Pictures has taken a different approach by targeting the vertical audience for documentary films.

For the extreme sports documentary “Free Solo” (赤手登峰), Alibaba Pictures leveraged the strong promotion capabilities of Taopiaopiao and Beacon which has strengthened the influence of KOLs in the rock-climbing field and attracted members of over 200 rock climbing gyms to watch the film in theaters. With the positive feedback and appreciation from the audience during the initial screenings, the film piqued the curiosity of passersby and ultimately achieved a box office attendance of over one million viewers.

Leveraging precise targeting of the core audience, Alibaba Pictures emphasizes the real-life significance of protagonists’ perseverance and positivity in film promotion. This approach has resulted in strong word-of-mouth, boosting the film to become the second highest-grossing documentary in 2019 with a box office of RMB36.4 million.

Compared with previous marketing strategies for foreign films, Alibaba Pictures goes beyond relying solely on Hollywood blockbusters and emphasizes on high-quality films featuring relatable characters and captivating stories instead. By introducing diverse genres and themes, the content available in Chinese cinemas is enriched and catering to the varied preferences of the audience.

In traditional promotion practices, non-Hollywood imported films often struggle to achieve commercial success due to low awareness and niche themes. Through the digital promotion products offered by Taopiaopiao and Beacon, Alibaba Pictures identifies precise marketing strategies for various films, allowing great content to reach a wider audience and achieve both box office success and positive reception.

This exemplifies the positive changes that Alibaba Pictures seeks to bring to the industry by empowering the film industry with “new infrastructure” like Internet promotion and constantly exploring innovative avenues for film promotion. It is clear that a growing number of international film and television companies are eager to engage in deep collaborations with Alibaba Pictures. In terms of boosting box office revenue and influence within the Chinese film market, Alibaba Pictures has emerged as a significant and influential force that demands attention and cannot be overlooked.

Hashtag: #AlibabaPictures

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About Alibaba Pictures

Alibaba Pictures was incorporated in Bermuda and its shares are listed on the Main Board of the Stock Exchange. The Company is an entertainment platform driven by the Internet at its core, with full coverage across the industry chain. The core business of the Group includes three major segments: content, technology and IP merchandising and commercialization. These segments encompass (i) investment in and production and distribution of entertainment content, such as film and drama series, both domestically and internationally; (ii) digitalization in the entertainment sector, including platform ticketing, digital intelligence business and other technology products; and (iii) centered around content IP, provision of professional services such as IP development and operation, and production and distribution of IP derivatives, respectively.

For more information, please visit

FBS Welcomed 200 Traders at Its Seminar in Lagos, Nigeria

LAGOS, NIGERIA – Media OutReach – 20 October 2023 – FBS, a leading global broker, successfully ran an exhaustive trading seminar in Lagos, Nigeria, having launched a series of FBS-hosted expert events in the country. The first seminar attracted approximately 200 guests seeking opportunities to enhance their proficiency in trading and financial markets.

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“Running our trading seminars in Nigeria, FBS follows our mission to create opportunities for traders worldwide, helping them enhance their knowledge and skills. Our FBS team was particularly excited to welcome many guests at the first event. The success of this seminar in Lagos inspires FBS to continue providing our traders with the tools and resources they need to succeed in the financial markets. We look forward to seeing even more participants in the future,” said Diego Lima, FBS Business Development Lead in the African Region.

During the insights part of the seminar, FBS’s experts spoke about the role of income source diversification and leveraging principles to achieve financial goals. The guests could also improve their knowledge of financial markets, Forex, CFD trading, risk management tactics, and financial market analysis, which are equally crucial for novice and experienced traders.

Not only was this seminar full of insights and free of charge, but it also had a dynamic and interactive atmosphere created by FBS. Following its unique approach to equipping traders with relevant trading tools and knowledge, FBS offered a bunch of entertaining brand activities for its audience. Guests could participate in giveaways and raffles, where lucky traders won an iPhone, bonus coupons for trading, and FBS merchandise kits.

“I was absolutely impressed with the quality of content and the speakers’ presentation skills. FBS’s commitment to transparency was evident throughout the seminar. I will use my lucky coupon to test the strategies covered at the event,” said Akeem Richard Ailoje, trader and FBS seminar guest.

To learn more about FBS, its initiatives, and upcoming events, visit www.fbs.com.

Hashtag: #FBS #seminar #trading


The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About FBS

FBS is a licensed global broker with over 14 years of experience and more than 75 international awards. FBS is steadily developing as one of the market’s most trusted brokers, with its traders numbering more than 27,000,000 and its partners exceeding 500,000 around the globe. The annual trading volume of FBS clients is over $8.9 trillion. FBS is also the Official Partner of Leicester City Football Club.

Healthcare Professionals in Laos Under Scrutiny for Low Quality Services

Healthcare Professionals in Laos Under Scrutiny for Low Quality Services
FILE: patients waiting for their queue at a hospital in Laos (photo: Laos Tours)

Social media users shed light on the recurrent issues they face when seeking healthcare in a number of hospitals across Laos. These concerns stem from the apparent lack of dedication from healthcare workers, inadequate compensation, and poor training, according to the critics.

Anlev Achieves New Milestones for Global Expansion

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 18 October 2023 – Analogue Holdings Limited (“Analogue” or the “Company”, together with its subsidiaries, collectively the “Group”) (stock code: 1977), a leading electrical and mechanical (“E&M”) engineering service provider in Hong Kong, is pleased to announce its global brand of lifts, escalators and moving walkways, Anlev Elevator Group (“Anlev“), has completed the acquisition of two lift companies in the United Kingdom, achieving another milestone in its strategy to go global.

When Anlev was founded in 1991, it was envisaged “A New Lift and Escalator Vision” and therefore named Anlev. Over the years, Anlev has been expanding its business with the mission to provide safe, comfortable, energy efficient and reliable lifts and escalators to global market. Anlev’s strategy into building alliances outside of Hong Kong began in 2019 through an equity acquisition of Transel Elevator & Electric Inc. (“TEI“), one of the largest independent lift and escalator companies in New York. Meanwhile, Anlev (UK) Limited was set up in 2020 to gain a foothold in Europe. Today, Anlev products from its own manufacturing facilities in Nanjing, China are exported to over 20 countries covering six continents serving millions of customers, gaining their long-term trust and support.

To further its global expansion strategy, Anlev has recently completed two acquisitions in the UK market. Anlev now owns 51% of JCW Lifts Limited (“JCW“) and 100% of Precision Lift Services Limited (“Precision“), both successful lift businesses in the UK. JCW is based in Yorkshire with focus in London, Manchester, Leeds and other major cities, and a reputation for its skills to install all types of high-rise passenger and goods lifts. Based in Essex, Precision sells and modernises all types of lifts with repair, routine and comprehensive services across the South East England.

Dr Otto Poon Lok-to, Chairman of Analogue Holdings Limited, said, “I am delighted to note our recent success in securing and executing sizeable lift contracts in Manchester, Birmingham and London. With the acquisitions of JCW and Precision, Anlev Elevator Group will provide comprehensive one-stop lift and escalator services for customers in the UK, as well as establishing our position in Europe.”

JCW and Precision will be given considerable autonomy while Anlev will provide these two companies with access to a wider array of designs and products to further strengthen their capabilities and businesses – a win-win for all.

“Anlev will continue to explore suitable synergistic business partnerships that align with our strategic goals and values, and seek new distributors to further our global expansion plan,” Dr Poon concluded.

Hashtag: #AnalogueHoldingsLimited

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About Analogue Holdings Limited

Established in 1977, Analogue Holdings Limited is a leading electrical and mechanical (“E&M”) engineering service provider headquartered in Hong Kong, with operations in Macau, Mainland China, the United States and the United Kingdom. Serving a wide spectrum of customers from public and private sectors, the Group provides multi-disciplinary and comprehensive E&M engineering and technology services in four major segments, including Building Services, Environmental Engineering, Information, Communications and Building Technologies (“ICBT”) and Lifts & Escalators.

The Group also manufactures and sells Anlev lifts and escalators internationally and has entered into an alliance with Transel Elevator & Electric Inc. (“TEI”), one of the largest independent lifts and escalators companies in New York, the United States. The Group’s associate partner, Nanjing Canatal Data Centre Environmental Tech Company Limited (603912.SS), specialises in manufacturing of precision air conditioners.

About Anlev Elevator Group

Anlev Elevator Group (“Anlev”) is a subsidiary of ATAL Engineering Group, specialising in provision of one-stop services from design, manufacturing, sales, installation, service, modernisation to maintenance of all forms of vertical or horizontal transportation systems around the world. Engineered for comfort, safety and energy efficiency, Anlev’s complete range of lifts, escalators and moving walkways provide reliable and efficient transport systems for passengers in Asia, Australia, the Americas, Europe and Africa.

Thailand to Attract More Russian Tourists with Longer Visa-Free Stay During High Season

Thailand expects to attract more Russian tourists this year. (Photo/AFP)

Thailand is expecting a surge in tourism from Russia during the final two months of the year as the government will grant a longer visa-free stay for Russian citizens throughout this upcoming high-season.

Hong Kong Life launches a 10-week “Care We On Health Challenge” Giving out eCoupons worth HKD40,000 in total

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 20 October 2023 – Hong Kong Life has announced the launch of a 10-week reward campaign named as “Care We On Health Challenge”. The campaign integrates game elements into the official WhatsApp account of Hong Kong Life, allowing participants to grasp health tips and win rewards through a simple interactive Q&A game, thereby encouraging and promoting the cultivation of healthy lifestyle and habits.

From now until 28 December 2023 (the “Campaign Period”), participants can join the “Care We On Health Challenge” (the “Campaign”) through the WhatsApp link ( https://bit.ly/45Aqayg ) of the Campaign. Participants will instantly receive the multiple-choice question (“Weekly Question”) related to physical and mental wellness, Hong Kong Life will automatically send out the Weekly Question to participants via WhatsApp on every Friday. Participants may answer each Weekly Question within the designated time frame. The first 200 participants who answer the Weekly Question will be entitled to a HKD20 eCoupon, and those who participate continuously for 10 weeks will have a chance to win a total of HKD200 eCoupons.

Mr. Jonathan Ko, Chief Marketing Officer of Hong Kong Life, said, “Hong Kong Life launched its official WhatsApp Official Account in this September. We are now attempting to incorporate game elements into the WhatsApp platform by introducing the ‘Care We On Health Challenge’, which combines simple Q&A sessions with instant rewards, providing our participants with a brand-new gaming experience. Through the health tips and rewards offered by the campaign, we hope to encourage participants to establish a healthy lifestyle in long term and embark on a healthy journey together with Hong Kong Life.”

Timeline ofCare We On Health Challenge

Week Start Date

(Every Friday)

Deadline

(Every Thursday at 11:59 pm)

1st week 20 October 2023 (12:00 noon) 26 October 2023
2nd week 27 October 2023 2 November 2023
3rd week 3 November 2023 9 November 2023
4th week 10 November 2023 16 November 2023
5th week 17 November 2023 23 November 2023
6th week 24 November 2023 30 November 2023
7th week 1 December 2023 7 December 2023
8th week 8 December 2023 14 December 2023
9th week 15 December 2023 21 December 2023
10th week 22 December 2023 28 December 2023

“Care We On Health Challenge” is subject to the terms & conditions ( https://bit.ly/3QnUAzg ).
Hashtag: #HKLife #香港人壽 #CareWeOn健康挑戰 #健康貼士 #健康獎賞 #有獎遊戲



The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About Hong Kong Life

Established in 2001, Hong Kong Life Insurance Limited (“Hong Kong Life”) was founded by five local financial institutions including Asia Insurance Company Limited, Chong Hing Bank Limited, CMB Wing Lung Bank Limited, OCBC Bank (Hong Kong) Limited and Shanghai Commercial Bank Limited, which laid their foundations and have been serving people in Hong Kong for more than 50 years in average. Through our extensive network of around 130 distribution points comprising Chong Hing Bank, CMB Wing Lung Bank, OCBC Bank and Shanghai Commercial Bank, we provide a comprehensive range of insurance products and services.

A Run for Children, from Vientiane to Luang Prabang

Team We Run and staff during a press conference on 18 October 2023. (Photo: Lao Youth Radio)

A group of dedicated runners will run from Vientiane Capital all the way to Luang Prabang, covering a distance of 385 kilometers from 23 to 27 October, to collect funds for charity.

CFD trading made clear: an Octa guide

In keeping up with its clarity principle , the international broker Octa makes clear one aspect of trading at a time. Gain comprehensive knowledge about CFD trading, simply and transparently.

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach – 20 October 2023 – With countless abbreviations and numerous strange and unfamiliar terms, the world of finance can be confusing. One such commonly used word is ‘CFD’. The Octa experts explain what it is exactly and how the traders can profit from it below.

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Understanding CFDs
A contract for difference (CFD) is a derivative instrument that allows traders to speculate on the prices of various assets without actually owning them. CFDs are traded between traders and brokers, where the trader agrees to exchange the difference in the price of an asset from the time the contract is opened to when it is closed. In CFD trading, traders can profit from both rising and falling markets using long and short positions.

There are several types of assets you can trade with almost any CFD broker. Those include currencies, commodities (such as gold, silver, crude oil, natural gas, and others), indices, stocks, and cryptocurrencies. They are mostly represented in pairs, e.g. EURUSD, XAUUSD, BTCUSD. Indices and stocks have ticker symbols, such as NAS100 (Nasdaq 100), AMZN (Amazon), and TSLA (Tesla).

Pros and cons of CFD trading
Like any form of trading, CFD trading has its own set of advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages of CFD trading

  • Leverage. CFDs offer high leverage, meaning traders can control a larger position with a relatively small capital. A deposit of $100 with a leverage of 1:500 will allow opening market orders worth $50,000. In this way, traders amplify their potential profits (but also their potential losses).
  • Wide range of asset types. CFD brokers typically provide a wide range of financial instruments across different asset classes. Traders can diversify their portfolios with currencies, commodities, indices, stocks, and cryptocurrencies.
  • Short selling. CFDs allow traders to profit from falling markets by short selling. The commissions and margin requirements for short positions are lower than in stock trading, while the leverage is generally higher.
  • No ownership. Since CFD traders don’t actually own the underlying assets in the contract, they don’t have to deal with issues like their physical delivery, storage, or any kind of legal paperwork and bureaucracy.
  • Accessibility. CFD trading platforms are easily accessible and often offer various trading tools, educational opportunities, and advanced analytics. The minimum recommended deposit is $100, which is lower than most conservative investments.
  • Hedging. Traders can use CFD trading to offset some of their losses in other portfolios.

Disadvantages of CFD trading

  • High risk. CFD trading involves high leverage levels, which can lead to substantial losses if the market moves against the trader. Risk management techniques help reduce the risk levels involved in trading dramatically, and yet they cannot eliminate them completely.
  • Complexity. CFD trading requires at least a general understanding of global financial markets and how certain factors influence asset prices. To open their first order, a trader will need a sound knowledge of price charts, trading platform functionality, and risk-limiting tools (including Stop Loss and Take Profit orders). However, this information is readily available with most CFD brokers.
  • Stress. Such feelings as fear, greed, and various biases can significantly influence your trading decisions, pushing you to open an order or to close it at a random moment dictated only by your emotions. It is, therefore, crucial for traders to maintain strict trading discipline and open new orders only after a considerable analysis has been performed.

The role of CFD brokers
Simply put, a CFD broker, such as Octa, is a service that provides intermediary services between an individual trader and the global markets. Retail traders cannot execute orders there on their own when it comes to financial markets with trillions of U.S. dollars in daily turnover. CFD brokers give access and all the necessary tools for market participation, including trading instruments, platforms, indicators, analytics, educational materials, and much more.

CFD trading costs
The three most common fees in CFD trading are spreads, swaps, and per-trade commissions.

The spread is the difference between a CFD’s buy (bid) and sell (ask) price. It is the main fee the broker profits from and one of the most significant costs in CFD trading. The tighter the spread, the lower the cost of trading. Brokers often offer floating spreads that can change depending on market conditions.

Swaps or overnight funding fees are charged for holding a position overnight. They depend on the interest rate differential between the currencies in a pair, called the swap rate. Swaps depend on the direction of the order (short or long) and are usually charged at midnight. On Wednesday night, traders have to pay weekend swaps, which are triple the usual size because it is accrued over two additional days—Saturday and Sunday.

Commissions are charged on each trade. This fee is separate from the spread and is typically a fixed amount per lot or trade. The commission cost varies among brokers and may depend on the type of CFD being traded.

To enhance trading opportunities and make trading more accessible for its clients, Octa decided not to charge any fees except for spreads.

It’s essential to carefully read and understand the terms and conditions provided by your chosen CFD broker. Before the one starts trading, it’s crucial to consider the total cost of trading, including spreads, commissions, swaps, and any other fees. Additionally, the one should be aware of how leverage can magnify both potential profits and losses, which can significantly impact overall trading costs. It is crucial to evaluate these costs to manage risk and maximise potential returns in CFD trading.

Hashtag: #Octa

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About Octa

is an international broker that has been providing online trading services worldwide since 2011. It offers commission-free access to financial markets and various services already utilised by clients from 180 countries with more than 42 million trading accounts. Free educational webinars, articles, and analytical tools they provide help clients reach their investment goals.

The company is involved in a comprehensive network of charitable and humanitarian initiatives, including the improvement of educational infrastructure and short-notice relief projects supporting local communities.

Octa has also won more than 60 awards since its foundation, including the ‘Best Online Broker Global 2022’ award from World Business Outlook and the ‘Best Global Broker Asia 2022’ award from International Business Magazine.