Hong Kong - Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF), co-organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (TDC) and Hong Kong Kowloon & New Territories Motion Picture Industry Association (MPIA), concluded today (March 22) and presented six awards to Asian film projects.
The three-day forum arranged over 630 meetings for Asian directors to discuss their projects with quality film financiers, producers, bankers, distributors and buyers. The number of attendees increased by 20% compared with previous year.
TDC Assistant Executive Director Raymond Yip said that the HAF has helped small and large Hong Kong and Asian film projects find global investors. "Through overseas investors, these projects will be able to broaden their international distribution network," he added.
Out of 25 film projects presented at the HAF, at least one project has closed the deal. FILMKO, a Hong Kong Film company, and Fortissimo Film Sales will invest in mainland director Zhang Yang's film project Air.
The six awards presented amounting to approximately HK$410,000 in cash and HK$200,000 value-in-kind. Sponsors of the HAF 2006 awards include the Hong Kong - Asia Film Financing Forum, the Hubert Bals Fund, the Rome Film Festival and Technicolor Thailand Limited.
HAF Award (Hong Kong): Fat Englishmen by Lawrence GRAY, produced by Asad SULTAN
HAF Award (outside Hong Kong):
132 by Royston TAN (Singapore), produced by Eric KHOO / James TOH
The Unspeakable Curse of the Ox Family by SU Chao-pin (Taiwan), produced by Jimmy HUANG Chih-ming
Hubert Bals Fund Award: Part Ocean, Part Flame by LIU Fen-dou, produced by LIU Xiao-dian
Rome Film Festival Award: Utopia by Apichatpong WEERASETHAKUL (Thailand) who also produced the film
Technicolor Thailand Awards:
Air by ZHANG Yang (Chinese mainland), produced by Er Yong
The Maid - A New Beginning by Kelvin TONG (Singapore), produced by Daniel YUN / CHAN Pui-yin / SEAH Saw-yam
