Create Hong Kong today (January 13) announced the winners of the 3rd First Feature Film Initiative (FFFI). Two new directors and their production teams will receive funding from the Film Development Fund (FDF) to implement their winning film proposals and make their first commercial feature films.

     Speaking at the award presentation ceremony, the Chairman of the Hong Kong Film Development Council, Mr Ma Fung-kwok, said, "Launched in March 2013, the FFFI has been widely supported by the industry and has gradually built up its brand. The scheme has proved its worth in identifying a new generation of film talents and nurturing young directors."

     Mr Ma said that it was very encouraging to see that "Weeds on Fire", one of the two winning projects in the Higher Education Institution Group of the 1st FFFI, had good box-office results when it was commercially released in Hong Kong in August last year, while another winning project in the same category, "Mad World", had scooped the Best New Director and Best Supporting Actress prizes at the 53rd Golden Horse Awards.

     He said he hoped that the FFFI would continue to attract the participation of more young prospective filmmakers with creativity and capacity in film production, with a view to grooming young talents and promoting the long-term development of Hong Kong's film industry. He also thanked the film trade for its contributions in making this film talent nurturing initiative a success.

     A total of 18 production teams signed up for the 3rd FFFI, with 13 teams participating in the Professional Group and five teams in the Higher Education Institution Group. The winning entries are as follows:

Professional Group
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Film title: The Assassination of G
Brief introduction: The complexity of lives in Hong Kong and the people living in it is shown through depicting a murder mystery.
Director: Lee Cheuk-pan
Scriptwriter: Chiang Chung-yu
Producer: Titus Ho

Higher Education Institution Group
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Film title: Still Human
Brief introduction: A love story between a paralysed middle-aged man and a young Filipino maid.
Director and scriptwriter: Chan Siu-kuen
Producers: Fruit Chan

     Starting from the 2nd FFFI, the levels of grants from the FDF for the winning teams of the Higher Education Institution Group and the Professional Group to produce their films have been increased to $3.25 million and $5.5 million respectively.

     The winning teams are required to complete the whole film production and sales process, involving planning, shooting and distribution, and in the process acquire practical knowledge in making a feature film.

Ends/Friday, January 13, 2017
Issued at HKT 16:25

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