Action hero Jackie Chan and leading kung fu choreographers who put the kick into Hong Kong cinema will be honored at next month's Hong Kong International Film Festival.

Among those receiving awards are Ching Siu-tung, a choreographer of Zhang Yimou's "House of Flying Daggers" and "Hero," and Yuen Woo-ping, who designed the fight scenes for Jet Li's "Fearless," "Kill Bill" and the "Matrix" trilogy.

"Their contribution to the local cinema is very big ... when people talk about Hong Kong icons, they talk about our action films," said Peter Tsi, executive director of the Hong Kong International Film Festival Society.

"A lot of them are working in Hollywood now ... more and more you can see the signature of Hong Kong action in Hollywood films."

The festival, which runs from April 4 to 19, will also pay tribute to veteran actors and choreographers Sammo Hung and Lau Kar-leung. They will be honored for their contribution to Hong Kong film at a dinner gala.

Tsi said the organization will also publish a guide to the history of action choreography in the city's long-established film industry.

Editor: Donald