Inaugural International Film Camp Draws To Successful Close!
Asian Film Awards Academy’s Inaugural International Film Camp Draws To Successful Close! Eight Winning Students To Receive HK$300,000 Grant For Short Film Production. AFAA Chairman Dr. Wilfred Wong On IFC’s Mission: Unite Asian Filmmakers And Let Students Inspire Each Other To Create New Cinematic Future.Organised by the Asian Film Awards Academy; advised by Hong Kong Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau and Instituto Cultural of Macau; and sponsored by Create Hong Kong, Film Development Fund and Sands China Ltd, the five-day inaugural International Film Camp was held on April 9 to 13, 2024 at the integrated resorts operated by Sands China. At the closing ceremony held on April 13, eight outstanding projects were announced to bring the inaugural edition to a perfect end.
In his closing ceremony speech, Dr. Wilfred WONG, GBM, GBS, JP, Chairman of the Asian Film Awards Academy, said that the International Film Camp’s establishment came from the belief that good film productions require the cultivation of talents, and that the art of film can only persevere through the passing of the torch. At the award ceremony, Dr. Wong encouraged students to continue their filmmaking path and to keep exploring. With the Film Camp bringing together people from all across Asia, Dr. Wong hopes that everyone can inspire each other, open up new possibilities, and build up new social networks that foster mutual cooperation. Dr. Wong added that the AFAA has brought together the Asian film industry over the past 17 editions of its award ceremony, creating a new path for cinema. Moreover, the Hong Kong Film Development Fund’s financial support of about a dozen Hong Kong films per year have fostered several successful directors, including Sunny Chan, Jack Ng and Norris Wong, all of whom were in attendance. Dr. Wong said to students, “I hope that their present will be your future. Take this opportunity to boldly create a cinematic world with your passion.” Finally, Dr. Wong thanked the Hong Kong SAR government, the Macau SAR government and Sands China Ltd. He promised to review the outcome of the inaugural edition and continue to promote the development of films. Finally, Dr. Wong expressed his hope that the event’s supporters and partners will continue this cinematic journey with him.
Last January, the AFAA selected 16 participants from 550 applicants from all across Asia to take part in the International Film Camp in Macau. Participants include Hong Kong’s Frankie LEE, Arnold TAM, TO Chun Him and YEH Ka Lun; Macau’s Galilee MA and TANG Ho Chung; Mainland China’s CHEN Yun, SONG Dongxu, Wang Lu Ka and LAN Tian; Singapore’s Ivan TAN; Japan’s OKAMOTO Nao; Malaysia’s YOENG Kuok Hong; Cambodia’s Ines SOTHEA; Indonesia’s Andrew KOSE; and Mongolia’s Lkhagvadulam PUREV-OCHIR. During the course of the camp, a number of seasoned directors, screenwriters and producers served as mentors, providing one-on-one guidance to students while sharing their professional knowledge and experience in film production. Before the end of the camp, each student presented their short film proposals to a jury panel that included chief mentor Mabel CHEUNG, AFAA and IFC executive director Josie LIN and IFC director TENG Lee Yein. The jury then selected eight projects and granted each project a sponsorship of HK$300,000 that will go towards making a short film with the theme of “my home town”. The short films will be screened during the Academy’s annual Asian Cinerama. Furthermore, the Academy will also help the winning films enter film festivals, thereby increasing their exposure and development opportunities in the global film industry.
The winning projects are:
Sweet, Sour and Bitter – Frankie LEE (Hong Kong)
Once Upon a Time There Was a Mountain – TO Chun Him (Hong Kong)
Pop It! – Galilee MA (Macau)
Ride Your Horse – SONG Dongxu (Mainland China)
Catching Alternative – CHEN Yun (Mainland China)
One Home to Another – Lan Tian (Mainland China)
A South-Facing Window – Lkhagvadulam Purev-Ochir (Mongolia)
Homecoming Waves – Ines SOTHEA (Cambodia)
Terence CHANG, the producer of many hit films in Hong Kong, Hollywood and Mainland China, served as advisor of the Film Camp. The mentoring team led by Hong Kong veteran director Mabel CHEUNG also included Film Camp advisor Roger GARCIA; Singaporean filmmaker Anthony CHEN; DING Yuin Shan, Acting Dean of the School of Film and Television Faculty, The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts; and Malaysian director TAN Chui Mui. The camp was also joined by an impressive lineup of Masterclass Speakers and Guest Speakers, including Gary MAK, Secretary General of the Hong Kong Film Development Council and Assistant Head of Create Hong Kong; Hong Kong International Film Festival Society Executive Director Albert LEE; Hong Kong filmmakers YAU Nai Hoi, Oliver CHAN, Sunny CHAN, Norris WONG and Jack NG; veteran Hong Kong producer Daniel YU; Hong Kong film researcher Sam HO; Hong Kong film distribution executive Felix TSANG; Clarence TSUI, former director of the Broadway Cinematheque and the Hong Kong Asian Film Festival; Hong Kong-based producer and consultant Michael J. WERNER; Helena YOUNG, Director of Production Services and Marketing at Shaw Studios; Veteran Taiwan film editor LIAO Ching-sung; Veteran Taiwan film producer YEH Jufeng; Taiwan producer and showrunner Benjamin LIN; Mainland China director ZHOU Quan; Macau filmmakers CHOI Ian Sin and HOGN Heng Fai; Malaysian filmmakers Amanda Nell EU and LAU Kok-rui; and Korean film festival curator and selection committee member Jongsuk Thomas NAM.
At the closing ceremony, Film Camp Chief Mentor Mabel CHEUNG said that only by living a colourful life can one make colourful films. While getting to know the students, she was shocked to find out that the 16 students have already travelled all around the world in lives filled with twists and turns. “After hearing their presentations, it was really hard to pick the finalists. Some of them are truly hidden gems, so I feel bad that they weren’t selected. I hope that those who weren’t selected know that they’re already winners. All of their presentations were exceptional and filled with wonderful personalities. Keep working hard and wait for the god of luck to come. Keep encouraging each other.”
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