Student Tour to 36th Tokyo International Film Festival – CALL FOR APPLICATIONS [Closed]
This is one of the most sought-after overseas exchange programs among Hong Kong undergraduate students, and recruitment for this year's program is now open.
The deadline for applying to visit this year’s Journey to the Fest is now extended to next Friday (Aug 11). Don’t miss your last chance!
Get ready for the ultimate film festival experience! The Asian Film Awards Academy is thrilled to announce that the Journey to the Fest – Student Visit to the Tokyo International Film Festival is back and better than ever. This is one of the most sought-after overseas exchange programs among Hong Kong undergraduate students, and recruitment for this year’s program is now open.
During the program, 6 to 8 lucky undergraduate students will get the chance to indulge in an intensive film viewing experience, attend the grand opening ceremony of the Tokyo International Film Festival, and participate in various industry exchange activities. This includes workshops, film appreciation, and attending TIFFCOM, the leading content market in Asia, where they will get to mingle with industry experts and learn about the current state of the film industry in Japan and beyond. It is a rare opportunity that shouldn’t be missed!
The Journey to the Fest is hosted by the Asian Film Awards Academy, co-organized by the Tokyo International Film Festival, and supported by Create Hong Kong and the Film Development Fund. Since 2015, the program has partnered with other renowned film festivals such as the Busan International Film Festival, the Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival, and the Singapore International Film Festival.
Previous participants of the Journey to the Fest have expressed their excitement and satisfaction with the program. According to Yip, who participated in 2016, “I enjoyed every moment of it. The opportunity to meet with well-known directors, film festival programmers, and publicists, was something I never expected. It was an incredible experience to attend the nomination reception and award ceremony.” Meanwhile, Cheng shared that the program offered a wide range of activities, from film screenings to site inspections and talks. “I got to observe the set environment at the CMPC Studio, chat with the action director in person, and even heard about film restoration. It was a dream come true!”
Josie Lin, Executive Director of the Asian Film Awards Academy, said, “We’re thrilled to bring back the Journey to the Fest program. The previous Journey to the Fest to the Tokyo International Film Festival was a very pleasant exchange experience. This is a rare opportunity to gain hands-on experience and establish meaningful connections in the film industry.”
Don’t miss your chance to be a part of this unforgettable experience! Apply now to secure your spot in the Journey to the Fest – Student Visit to the Tokyo International Film Festival.
Application Guidelines
AFAA will provide accommodation and round-trip airfare to Tokyo according to the guidelines set out in the Application Guidelines. Students who meet the following criteria are welcome to apply (please refer to the official website’s Application Guidelines for details):
• Hong Kong permanent residents aged 18 or above;
• Second-year undergraduate students or above/ Postgraduate student who has attained an undergraduate degree within the past 2 years; and
• Interested in pursuing a career in film and media-related industries, with relevant knowledge in the field.
Please download the following documents for application:
Key Notes
Location: Tokyo
Application Deadline: 11 August 2023
Interview Date: August 2023 (TBD)
Briefing Session: September 2023 (TBD)
Event Date: 23 October to 1 November 2023 (Departure Date TBD)
In 2013, three main Asian film festivals – Busan, Hong Kong and Tokyo – joined together to create the non-profit organization, the Asian Film Awards Academy (AFAA) to promote and develop Asian cinema and its talents. AFAA highlights, strengthens and develops Asian film industry and culture through the annual Asian Film Awards, and with financial support from Create Hong Kong and Film Development Fund of the Hong Kong SAR Government, several year-round initiatives for building regional and international audiences such as the Masterclass Series, Journey to the Fest, Asian Cinerama, Young Film Professionals Overseas Training Program and Film Craft Workshops.
Create Hong Kong is a dedicated office set up under the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on 1 June 2009 to lead, champion and drive the development of the creative economy in Hong Kong. It co-ordinates Government policy and effort regarding creative industries, focuses Government resources for the promotion and speeding up of the development of creative industries in Hong Kong, and works closely with the trade to boost the development of creative industries.
The Film Development Fund was first set up by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in 1999 to fund projects and activities which contribute towards the development of the Hong Kong film industry, including part-financing small-to-medium budget film productions; enhancing efforts to promote Hong Kong films in the Mainland and overseas; enhancing initiatives to train talents in various aspects of film production and distribution; and enhancing the interest and appreciation of Hong Kong films by the local audience.
Tokyo International Film Festival
The Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) started in 1985 as Japan’s first major film festival and the only Japanese film festival accredited by the International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF). Since then, TIFF has grown to become one of the leading film festivals in Asia.
Every year for ten days, filmmakers and film fans of all ages gather in Tokyo to enjoy outstanding films from around the world and TIFF’s many colourful events. These include TIFFCOM, the affiliated market of TIFF, seminars for students, professionals and businesspeople, and symposia and workshops for networking, uniting the world’s film industries, developing international co-productions, and promoting the global film business.
If you have any inquiries, please feel free to contact us:
Email: info@afa-academy.com
Telephone: +852 3195 0607
Website: https://www.afa-academy.com
