The Hong Kong International Film Festival Society (HKIFFS) unveils its glittering line-up of Firebird Awards competitions and FIPRESCI prize jury members. The announcement follows the decision to continue with the competitions despite the earlier cancellation of the 44th Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF44) due to an escalation in COVID-19 cases. Through online judging, five panels of independent juries will select a total of 13 winners from the 42 competition titles.
HKIFFS will announce the results on 20 August.
Leading the jury for the Young Cinema Competition for Chinese Language Films is revered Hong Kong director Stanley KWAN, who has been an iconic figure in local and international cinema for decades. Joining him are fellow director-cum-cinematographer O Sing-pui; and acclaimed independent art and cultural worker May FUNG. Together they will identify four winners among the emerging talents in recent Chinese language cinema.
Making up the jury panel for Young Cinema Competition for World Cinema are three distinguished industry figures: LEONG Po-chih, renowned new wave director for his pioneering works both locally and overseas; Professor Gina MARCHETTI of the University of Hong Kong, a specialist in film and cultural studies; and prominent film programmer, researcher and critic, Sam HO.
Three equally illustrious veterans form the Documentary Competition jury panel: Ruby YANG, the Academy Award winner for Best Documentary Short Subject with “The Blood of Yingzhou District”; Ruby CHEN, Co-Founder and CEO of CNEX Foundation Limited, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting documentaries in Chinese language regions; and Bryan CHANG, a notable film critic, director and screenwriter who has produced several independent films and books on cinema.
Hong Kong filmmaker Derek Kwok-cheung TSANG, whose sophomore film, “Better Days” garnered eight Hong Kong Film Awards, including Best Director, joins the jury panel for the Short Film Competition. He will select two winners from 18 short films with his fellow jurors: Taiwanese director, producer, writer and actor CHENG Yu-Chieh, whose “Dear Tenant” was chosen initially for the cancelled HKIFF44's Gala Premiere section; and Ana Isabel STRINDBERG, co-director of Portugal Film, and a member of IndieLisboa's selection committee.
For the FIPRESCI prize, three renowned international film critics – Robert HORTON from the USA, Gideon KOUTS from France, and Ann Lind ANDERSEN from Denmark – will form the jury to select the winner.
“While we cannot publicly screen any of the competition films at the moment, we are pleased that we can still go ahead with their online judging,” HKIFFS Executive Director Albert LEE said. “It is important that we can continue to highlight talented young filmmakers who deserve recognition and accolades for their outstanding works. Of course, we are most grateful to all jury members for their devotion and support.”
HKIFF44 Firebird Awards Competitions Jury Members
Young Cinema Competition (Chinese Language)
1. Stanley KWAN
2. O Sing-pui
3. May FUNG
Young Cinema Competition (World)
1. LEONG Po-chih
2. Gina MARCHETTI
3. Sam HO
Documentary Competition
1. Ruby YANG
2. Ruby CHEN
3. Bryan CHANG
Short Film Competition
1. Derek Kwok-cheung TSANG
2. CHENG Yu-Chieh
3. Ana Isabel STRINDBERG
FIPRESCI Prize
1. Robert HORTON
2. Gideon KOUTS
3. Ann Lind ANDERSEN
