The three-day 19th edition of Hong Kong – Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF19) successfully concluded today with the announcement of 17 cash and in-kind awards with a combined value of HK$1,200,000 (approximately US$157,000) to outstanding projects.
Returning to its regular March slot concurrent with the Hong Kong International Film & TV Market (FILMART), HAF19 was staged online for the second year running as the battle against the global COVID-19 pandemic continues. HAF19 showcased a total of 48 projects this year, including 20 works-in-progress, from 24 countries and regions.
Despite the challenging circumstances, HAF19 attracted 7% more registered participants than its first virtual edition last year and an astounding increase of over 80% in the number of online meetings arranged for industry professionals to discuss potential business opportunities with the participating filmmakers.
“Learning from last year’s experience, our team has worked hard to come up with a more efficient and user-friendly online platform, and I am encouraged to see the market’s enthusiastic response,” HAF director Jacob WONG said.
“Although it remains another challenging year, it does not stop the creativity of our filmmakers and the market’s demand for quality projects. With the selection this year, we have affirmed HAF’s position as a cutting-edge film financing platform to promote the art of film in the region.”
Among the 17 awarded projects, there are six women directors and seven women producers. The award results are as follows:
- HAF Fiction Awards (Presented by Create Hong Kong, Hong Kong Film Development Fund, and HAF)
The HAF Fiction Awards offer cash prizes to one Hong Kong HAF fiction project and one non-Hong Kong HAF fiction project. “Her Lullaby” (Hong Kong) and “The Catch” (India) receive HK$100,000 each. - HAF Documentary Awards (Presented by Create Hong Kong, Hong Kong Film Development Fund, and HAF)
- The HAF Documentary Awards aim to promote the development of documentary filmmaking. The Way We AD (Hong Kong) and I Come From Ikotun (France, Hong Kong) receive a cash prize of HK$100,000 each for their feasibility, appeal, and social relevance.
- WIP Fiction Award (Presented by Create Hong Kong, Hong Kong Film Development Fund, and HAF)
All WIP fiction projects are eligible for the WIP Fiction Award, and Stonewalling (China) receives a cash prize of HK$78,000 for its originality and creativity. - WIP Documentary Award (Presented by Create Hong Kong, Hong Kong Film Development Fund, and HAF)
All WIP documentary projects are eligible for the WIP Documentary Award, which encourages and promotes documentary filmmaking. This year’s winning project is No Winter Holidays (Nepal, South Korea), which receives a cash prize of HK$78,000. - Heaven Pictures Young Director Award (Presented by Heaven Pictures (HK) Culture & Media Co., Ltd.)
The Award aims to encourage young Hong Kong directors to create local-themed projects with unique personal style. The recipient of this year’s Heaven Pictures Young Director Award is Winter Chants (Hong Kong), which receives a cash prize of HK$150,000 (approximately US$19,350). - Cinerent Award (Presented by Cinerent Beijing Ltd.)
Set out to support and encourage high-quality HAF projects to be shot in Mainland China, the Cinerent Award goes to Donna, Donna (China), which receives an in-kind award of RMB150,000. - Network of Asian Fantastic Films (NAFF) Award (Presented by Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival)
This year’s Network of Asian Fantastic Films Award goes to 108 Days (Indonesia), allowing it to participate in the Network of Asian Fantastic Films 2021 in Bucheon. - Udine Focus Asia Award (Presented by the Udine Far East Film Festival)
Designed to encourage and facilitate film co-production between Asia and Europe, the Udine Focus Asia Award goes to Getting Nowhere (China). This in-kind award is worth 7,000 euros (approximately HK$62,000), comprising of a round-trip air ticket and hotel accommodation for the director and hotel accommodation for the producer to participate in its project market. - White Light Post-Production Awards (Presented by White Light Studio)
The White Light Post-Production Awards offer in-kind awards, valued at US$15,000 each, to one HAF project and one WIP project in recognition of their cinematic innovation. The award-winners will receive post-production services from White Light Studio in Bangkok, Thailand. This year, the awards go to Splash (China) from HAF and The Return of Agaar (China) from WIP. - HAF Goes to Cannes (Presented by HAF and Marché du Film)
In collaboration with Marché du Film, Festival de Cannes, the HAF Goes to Cannes Program presents filmmakers opportunities to look for sales agents, distributors and film festival exposure. The five selected projects are A Light Never Goes Out, Red Horse In The Summer Sky, Stonewalling, No Winter Holidays and Saving One Who Was Dead.
