(10 August 2015) Hong Kong – The Hong Kong - Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF) is officially calling for project submissions for its 14th edition, to be held during 14-16 March 2016 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Organized by the Hong Kong International Film Festival Society (HKIFFS) and running concurrently with the Hong Kong International Film and TV Market (FILMART), HAF is a mature and well-established film financing platform in Asia in its role of connecting filmmakers with film projects to internationally prominent industry financiers, bankers, producers, production companies, post-production houses, distributors, buyers, co-production ventures and film festival delegates.
HAF now welcomes submissions of fiction and documentary feature length projects from 10 August 2015 through 16 October 2015 for its 2016 edition. Selected projects will be invited to participate in the film financing forum activities in Hong Kong and will also stand to compete for awards with a total value over HK$900,000 (approximately US$115,000). An early bird discount is offered to submissions on or before 11 September 2015.
All valid project submissions can opt to participate in the HAF Project Hub, HAF’s official online repository and reference library that provides a way for HAF-accredited professionals to request additional information about a project (e.g. filmmaker profile, current status, etc.), and serves as a bridge between filmmakers and potential investors through a single online system.
The 13th HAF received over 300 project submissions from multiple countries and regions around the world. The three-day event attracted over 1,000 registered guests from 38 countries and regions; 800 private business meetings and multiple networking events were arranged for the filmmakers of the selected projects.
Project team of Breathing (HAF 2015) commented, “HAF is a buzzing forum that is packed with talented and influential people and a great place to do business.” Commented by TAN Bee Thiam, Producer of Pontianak (HAF 2015), “HAF is a wonderful platform for us to meet potential co-producers, sales and distributions agents, and festival managers. The conversations have been constructive and of high quality, giving us the confidence to keep going.” Daniel GUANDO, EVP Acquisitions, Production and Development of The Weinstein Company commented, “I had the opportunity to meet with promising filmmakers from around the world – many of whom I would not have had the chance to meet if it weren’t for HAF.” Representatives of iQIYI Motion Pictures praised HAF as a “professional [and] efficient [forum] with outstanding projects… we’ve been in touch with [two projects and will] carry on the conversation to see how we can work together.”
The HAF has supported and championed some of the most acclaimed Asian films in the past thirteen years. Recent HAF success stories include: ZHAO Liang’s documentary Behemoth (originally titled Dust, China, HAF 2014) has been selected for Competition at the 72nd Venice International Film Festival. Philip YUNG’s Port of Call (Hong Kong, HAF 2011) garnered three awards including Best of Bucheon, Best Actress and Special Mention for Actor at the 2015 Bucheon International Film Festival. The film was also selected as Closing Film of the 2015 Hong Kong International Film Festival. Apichatpong WEERASETHAKUL’s Cemetery of Splendour (Thailand, HAF 2013) and Gurvinder SINGH’s The Fourth Direction (India, HAF 2012) were both selected for the Un Certain Regard section of the 2015 Cannes Film Festival. PHAN Dang Di’s Big Father, Small Father and Other Stories (Vietnam, HAF 2011) was selected in the main competition at the 2015 Berlin Film Festival. KAWASE Naomi’s Still the Water (Japan, HAF 2013) was selected in the main competition section at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival. Kongdej JATURANRASMEE’s Tang Wong (Thailand, HAF 2012) won four awards at the 2014 Thailand National Film Association Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director.
For more details on the 14th HAF’s submission procedures, application eligibility and selection criteria, please visit http://www.haf.org.hk, or contact the HAF via email: haf@hkiff.org.hk.
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About The Hong Kong - Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF)
Established in 2000, and supported by government agencies Create Hong Kong and the Film Development Fund, the Hong Kong - Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF) is the leading film project market 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 25 to 30 projects are selected annually to participate in the three-day event.
HAF has partnered with international organisations to provide a range of opportunities to participants. Partners include iQIYI (China), Fox International Productions (US), Rotterdam Cinemart, Asian Project Market (South Korea), Independent Film Project (US), Golden Horse Film Project Promotion (Taiwan) and others. Cash and in-kind awards to the value of around US$115,000 are made with support from Create HK and Film Development Fund among others.
Past participants include China's Jia Jiangke, Jiang Wen, Lu Chuan 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, Chung Mong-Hong and Leon Dai; Japan's Kore-eda Hirokazu, Kurosawa Kiyoshi, Kawase Naomi and Iwai Shunji; the Philippines’s Adolfo Alix, Jun Robles Lana, Brillante Mendoza; South Korea's Park Chan-wook, Kim Jee-woon, Bong Joon-ho and Im Sang-soo; as well as Thailand's Apichatpong Weerasethakul, Ekachai Uekrongtham, Nonzee Nimibutr and Pen-ek Ratanruang.
Recent successes include South Korean box office hit KUNDO: The Age of Rampant, Naomi Kawase’s Cannes film festival competition entry Still the Water, Jun Robles Lana’s Barber’s Tales, and HKIFF 2015 closing night film with superstar Aaron Kwok, Port of Call by Philip Yung.
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.
The Society is committed to making world cinema accessible and affordable to the public. It organizes the annual flagship Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF) in March and April, and the HKIFF Cine Fan repertory cinema monthly programme bringing classic and contemporary cinema and filmmakers such as Abbas Kiarostami, to Hong Kong movie goers. Another annual highlight is the Cine Fan Summer International Film Festival held every August. Besides, the HKIFF Cine Fan Programme was launched in April 2013. With the aim to enrich and deepen the experience of Hong Kong moviegoers, the monthly programme features a variety of curate contemporary, retrospective and thematic showcases.
The Society annually organizes Asia’s premier project market, the Hong Kong - Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF); and the HKIFF Industry Screenings for industry attendees, as part of Hong Kong International Film & Television Market (FILMART).
Through its programmes, the Society promotes international appreciation of Asian, Hong Kong and Chinese film culture; introduces world cinema to Hong Kong audiences; and continues to underline Hong Kong’s key position in the international film community.
Press enquiries:
Say It LOUD
Venus Wong Tel: 9225 7116/ 2347 7171 E-Mail: venus@sayitloud.com.hk
Crystal Chan Tel: 9468 6388/ 2347 7877 E-Mail: crystal@sayitloud.com.hk
The Hong Kong International Film Festival Society Limited
Matthew Poon Tel: 2102 7375 E-Mail: matthew_poon@hkiff.org.hk