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The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Film Development Council:
The Hong Kong Film Development Council (FDC) will implement new measures to enhance the operation of the Film Development Fund (FDF) scheme in the first quarter of this year to better cater for the needs of the industry. It will also launch a number of large scale activities this year to promote Hong Kong films.
Speaking at a press briefing today (January 14), the Chairman of the FDC, Mr Jack So, said the measures would include:
1. Raising the upper limit of the production budget of a film project supported by the FDF from $12 million to $15 million;
2. Raising the upper limit of the contribution per film project from 30% to 35% and considering raising the contribution to 40% under very special circumstances;
3. Removing the 10 year time-limit for the production of two completed films in respect of the applicant, the film director or producer;
4. Improving the layout of the application forms to facilitate applications; and
5. Allowing the applicant to buy back the copyright of the film from the Government five years after it has been theatrically released.
FDC member Mr Wilfred Wong noted that the film production financing scheme had received 23 applications since its launch in October 2007, of which 14 were approved with a total funding of about $38.77 million.
"The 14 films have engaged six local directors and five producers who direct or produce commercial films for the first time. 'Claustrophobia', the first commercial film directed by famous scriptwriter Ms Ho Pik-mun, won various awards in local and overseas film festivals. All these demonstrate that the FDF is playing a positive role in nurturing talent, fostering the development and enhancing the professional standard of our film industry, " Mr Wong said.
"Ten of the 14 approved applications are from small companies, reflecting that the FDF is effective in assisting small-scale film production companies and creating film-related activities and job opportunities," he added.
On other film-related projects beneficial to the healthy and long-term development of the film industry, the FDC has approved 41 applications with a total funding at $74.44 million since July 2007. They included mega promotional film events, award presentation ceremonies, sponsoring the industry to attend overseas film festivals, production of a safety handbook and an animation teaching kit, and financial support for the setting up of a film academy to nurture talent.
FDC vice-chairman Mr Peter Lam and FDC member Mr Raymond Wong introduced the Council's coming promotional activities.
Noting that Guangdong Province is an important market, Mr Lam said the FDC would organise a promotional event entitled "Hong Kong and Mainland Film Business Matching" in Guangzhou from January 18 to 20 under the "Hong Kong Film: New Action" initiative.
"Investors and producers from Guangdong and other Mainland provinces and industry practitioners from Taiwan and Southeast Asia will join the exchange forums and business matching activities. Through these we want to further promote our new generation film directors and their projects so as to explore co-operation opportunities to revitalise the Chinese film market, " he said.
Participating directors and producers will include Mr Dennis Chan, Ms Casey Chan, Mr Jamie Luk, Mr Stanley Tam, Mr Weldon Fung, Mr Lucas Luc, Mr Choi Kai-kwong, Mr Buck Mok, Mr Ray Leung, Mr Steve Yuen Kim-wai, Mr Philip Yung Tsz-Kwong, Mr Titus Ho, and Mr Kingman Cho, Mr Kevin Chu, Ms Stella Sze and representatives from the Association of Motion Picture Post Production Professionals. They will meet producers of the Mainland, Taiwan and Southeast Asia early next week to discuss film production projects.
In addition, the FDC will organise the "Hong Kong Film Festival in Guangzhou 2010" in mid-May with a view to enhancing the Mainland audience's understanding of Hong Kong films. Ten to 20 acclaimed Hong Kong films and works by new generation directors that have never been theatrically released on the Mainland will be screened.
"These films will be shown in Cantonese to maintain their original features and to arouse the interest of audiences in the Southeast China region in Hong Kong films and local culture," Mr Wong said.
Mr Wong said that it was encouraging to note that Hong Kong films (including local productions and co-productions by Hong Kong and the Mainland) and practitioners had won 52 awards in 12 Mainland or overseas film festivals last year, and some had been able to attain good box office receipts in the Mainland market.
This year, the FDC's promotional effort will be expanded to cover areas such as 3D film production in view of its great potential in offering a new audio-visual experience and serving as a new means to combat piracy.
At the "Hong Kong International Film and TV Market" to be held this year, the FDC will set up a promotional booth on "The Making of Hong Kong 3D Movies" and organise the "Asia Visual Effects and Digital Film Making Summit 2010 - Emerging Digital Movie Making in Asia", the "3D Movie Workshop, Production and Post-production" and "3D Movie Technology Seminar". By showcasing to the world Hong Kong's 3D movie production technology and achievements, the FDC hopes to lure overseas investors to use the "one-stop" post-production service of Hong Kong's film industry and build up a long-term collaboration relationship, thereby promoting Hong Kong as a 3D movie production centre in Asia.
The above activities will be co-organised by the Association of Motion Picture Post Production Professionals and Hong Kong Productivity Council, with the support of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and funding from Create Hong Kong of the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau.
Ends/Thursday, January 14, 2010
Issued at HKT 15:30
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