More measures to promote film development

The Hong Kong Film Development Council (FDC) will implement new measures to enhance the operation of the Film Development Fund (FDF) program in the first quarter of this year to better cater to 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 January 14 press briefing, FDC Chairman 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 US$1.53 million to US$1.92 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, film director or producer;
4. Improving the layout of the application forms to facilitate applications; and5. Allowing the applicant to buy back the copyright of the film from the government five years after it has been theatrically released.

FDC member Wilfred Wong noted that since its launch in October 2007, the film production financing scheme had received 23 applications, 14 of which were approved, with a total funding of about US$4.97 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 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 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 [in] creating film-related activities and job opportunities,” he added.

Regarding other film-related projects beneficial to the health and long-term development of the film industry, the FDC has approved 41 applications with total funding of US$9.54 million since July 2007. The applications related to mega-promotional film events, award presentation ceremonies, sponsoring of 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 Peter Lam and FDC member Raymond Wong introduced the Council’s upcoming promotional activities.

Noting that Guangdong Province is an important market, Mr. Lam said the FDC would organize 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 cooperation opportunities to revitalize the Chinese film market,” he said.

In addition, the FDC will organize 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.

He also said 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 to offer a new audio-visual experience and serve as a new means to combat piracy.

At the “Hong Kong International Film and TV Market” exhibition to be held this year, the FDC will set up a promotional booth on “The Making of Hong Kong 3D Movies,” as well as organize 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 a long-term collaboration relationship, thereby promoting Hong Kong as a 3D movie production center in Asia.

The above activities will be co-organized 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.