23 July 2012 (Hong Kong) ― The Hong Kong - Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF) announced today its call for project submissions for the 11th edition, to be held from 18 to 20 March 2013 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Organised by the Hong Kong International Film Festival Society (HKIFFS) and running concurrently with the Hong Kong International Film and TV Market (FILMART), the HAF heralds a ten-year history of enabling both established and rising directors to jumpstart their projects, many of which became critical and commercial successes that in turn catapulted the forum into a solid reputation as Asia’s leading co-production platform.
From now until 15 October 2012, the 11th HAF will accept applications for its three initiatives, namely 2013 HAF Project Entry (for which feature and documentary projects are both eligible), the HAF/FOX Chinese Film Development Award, and the HAF Script Development Fund. 25 to 30 projects will be selected, competing for cash awards of up to HK$500,000 (approximately US$64,100).
The 10th HAF received more than 200 submissions, and 32 projects were singled out from over 20 different territories, including Australia, China, the Czech Republic, Hong Kong, Indonesia, India, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, The Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand. The eclectic line-up attracted more than 1,000 guests to attend the three-day forum, where a record 663 private business meetings were set up for filmmakers with financiers, producers and distributors among other industry professionals.
“It was my great honour to participate in HAF,” said acclaimed Japanese director KORE-EDA Hirokazu, who participated in HAF 2000 with Distance and returned in 2007 with Night-fragrant Flower that went on to garner the HAF Award (for non-Hong Kong project). “I was able to meet with the right people that developed my projects.”
South Korea’s NA Hong-jin (The Yellow Sea), another HAF Award winner in 2009, commented, “Throughout the decade, HAF has been dedicated to helping filmmakers concentrate solely on their projects and that has greatly contributed to the advance of cinema. I express my sincere thanks and respect to HAF for their continuing efforts and commitments.”
Indeed past HAF project line-ups not only featured notable names of cinema, but also introduced up-and-coming directors that subsequently shot to fame. “HAF is a very good platform for directors, in particular new directors, to meet with Hong Kong and foreign investors who can provide support to their projects for further development,” shared Teddy CHEN, director of the multiple award-winning Bodyguards and Assassins (HAF 2003 project) and producer of The Enchanter, winner of the 2010 HAF Award (for Hong Kong project).
Other success stories include: BONG Joon-ho’s Mother, Ann HUI’s Night and Fog, LU Chuan’s City of Life and Death, KIM Jee-woon’s The Good, the Bad, the Weird, Brillante MENDOZA’s Kinatay, TSAI Ming-Liang’s The Wayward Cloud, WEI Te-Sheng’s Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale, and more.
The HAF has also actively expanded its international networks through partnerships with overseas project markets, such as CineMart, Asian Project Market, DOX:LAB and Paris Project. "The year 2012 is a ten-year milestone, and we now move forward with an ever-growing global network that strengthens our influence in the region and enriches the range of filmmakers we wish to support,” said HAF Director Jacob WONG.
For more details on the 11th HAF’s submission procedures, application eligibility and selection criteria, please visit www.haf.org.hk, or contact us via email: haf@hkiff.org.hk.
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About The Hong Kong - Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF)
The Hong Kong - Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF) is widely recognised as the most important film-financing platform in Asia. The HAF brings Asian filmmakers with upcoming film projects to Hong Kong for co-production ventures with top film financiers, producers, bankers, distributors and buyers. Attracting more than 1,000 filmmakers and financiers from at least 35 countries and regions, around 30 projects are selected annually to participate in the three-day event.
Past participants include China's JIA Jiangke, JIANG Wen and NING Hao; Hong Kong's Peter CHAN, Stanley KWAN, Ann HUI, Fruit CHAN and PANG Ho-cheung; Taiwan's TSAI Ming-Liang, WEI Te-Sheng and Leon DAI; Japan's KORE-EDA Hirokazu, KUROSAWA Kiyoshi and IWAI Shunji; South Korea's PARK Chan-wook, KIM Jee-woon, BONG Joon-ho and IM Sang-soo; as well as Thailand's Ekachai UEKRONGTHAM, Nonzee NIMIBUTR and Pen-ek RATANARUANG.
About The Hong Kong International Film Festival Society Limited (HKIFFS)
Uniting the World through Film
The Hong Kong International Film Festival Society Limited (HKIFFS) is a charitable, non-profit and non-governmental organisation dedicated to the discovery and promotion of creativity in the art and culture of film.
Through its year-round programmes, the mission of the Society is to strengthen global appreciation of Chinese film culture and to promote inspiring films from around the world, enriching the cultural life of Hong Kong.
Committed to the development of a vibrant film culture in Hong Kong and Asia, the Society organises three annual flagship events in March and April: the Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF), the Hong Kong - Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF) and the Asian Film Awards (AFA).
Passionately believing in the power of films to unite cultures and generations, the HKIFFS is devoted to giving thousands of film lovers around the region direct access to the world’s most inspired films all year round.
For media enquiries, please contact:
The Hong Kong International Film Festival Society |
Mr. Amory HUI
Phone：+852 2102 7335
Email：amory_hui@hkiff.org.hk |
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