FEATURE FILMART Filmart strives to be more than a trading


platform — many participants come looking for fi nancing or co-production partners. Access points for this include the Hong Kong Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF), which has grown to become one of the region’s premier co-production markets. In addition to its usual activities, HAF has


teamed up this year with Ateliers du Cinema Européen (ACE) and consultancy Sinapses Asia, who are organising a Sino-European projects workshop, Co-production Lab Hong Kong. A total of 16 projects — six from Europe and 10 from Chinese-speaking countries — have been selected to participate in the four- day event. “The idea is to develop co-operation between


Europe and China,” says Sinapses Asia’s Pierre- Yves Lochon. “The projects feature three kinds of collaboration — stories which span both Europe and China, or casting or financing between the two. “We didn’t want to focus only on fi nancing


because at this stage there are not enough projects which have money from both sides.” In addition to project meetings, the lab will


feature case studies of successful co-produc- tions; individual consultation sessions with a team of around 10 industry experts; and semi- nars on aspects such as distribution, fi nance and casting. Backed by the European Union’s MEDIA International programme, the event is also co-organised by HAF organisers, the Hong Kong International Film Festival Society (HKIFFS), Filmart and the Taipei Film Com- mission. HKIFFS also organises the Hong Kong festi-


val (see sidebar, right) and the Asian Film Awards (AFAs) which this year has a jury led by Hong Kong film-maker Yonfan. Japanese drama Confessions and Jiang Wen’s satirical action adventure Let The Bullets Fly top the nominations list, with six apiece, and a special award will be presented to Hong Kong and Amsterdam-based Fortissimo Films — which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year — for the company’s long-time promotion of Asian cinema. The AFAs, which take place on March 21, are


ebrating television production across the region. Organised by the Hong Kong Televi- sioners Association (HKTVA), the ceremony looks set to draw a host of Asian TV idols, who have huge followings across the region and often end up working in fi lm. Towards the end of Expo, fi lms such as Reign


Of Assassins, Detective Dee And The Mystery Of The Phantom Flame and Gallants will battle it out at the Hong Kong Film Awards (April 17), while independent fi lm will be recognised at the Hong Kong Independent Short Film and


‘Everyone used to go to the West but Asia is becoming a buyers’ market. China is also attracting visitors


to Hong Kong’ Raymond Yip, HKTDC


BREAKING NEWS For the latest film business news see ScreenDaily.com


Video Awards (March 16-20) and the music industry via the Hong Kong Top Sales Music Award (March 25). Further events under the Expo umbrella


include a special exhibition, Pixar: 25 Years of Animation, which will take place at the Hong Kong Heritage Museum (March 28-July 11) and the Digital Visual Effects Summit to be held during Filmart. Speakers at the summit will include Hong Kong director Oxide Pang, who has recently made two 3D features — The Child’s Eye and The Sleep Walker. ■


s HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL


The Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF) also celebrates an anniversary this year — its 35th — and is welcoming new executive director Roger Garcia, who joined in September. Garcia, who was director


of HKIFF in the 1970s and is a respected fi lm critic, writer and educator, replaces Soowei Shaw who returned to her native Singapore after three years at the helm. The festival (March 20-April


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Our new online, interactive database provides key production and financing information for the top five European territories, making it easier to find funding, key creative partners and much more. Use the insider knowledge at Screen Base to help get your next project off the ground.


5) has selected two opening fi lms with strong Hong Kong ties but very different subject matter. Don’t Go Breaking My Heart is a romantic comedy, directed by long-time collaborators Johnnie To and Wai Ka Fai, while Quattro Hong Kong 2 features four short fi lms from Thailand’s Apichatpong Weerasethakul, the Philippines’ Brillante Mendoza, Malaysia’s Ho Yuhang and Hong Kong’s Stanley Kwan. Wai is also this year’s


just one of several awards ceremonies to be held during this year’s Expo. On the second night of Filmart, the market will host the fi rst ever Asia Rainbow TV Awards (March 22), cel-


Continually updated with only serious European projects, you have an interactive directory at your fingertips, saving you research time and money.


Film production stats on demand - search for projects in development, production or post production by status, genre, nationality and shooting year.


Filmmaker in Focus and the festival will screen 11 of his fi lms, host an interview with the director and publish a special catalogue. HKIFF, which will screen


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HKIFF’s Roger Garcia


335 fi lms from 56 countries, serves a dual purpose in providing a platform for Hong Kong fi lm-makers but also introducing award-winning fi lms and festival favourites to local audiences. The selection this year includes the Oscar- nominated Incendies, Animal Kingdom and Winter’s Bone, along with recent Berlin


Introducing our new production and finance database at http://screenbase.screendaily.com


Our new online, interactive database provides key production and fi nancing information for the top fi ve European territories, making it easier to fi nd funding, key creative partners and much more. Use the insider knowledge at Screen Base to help get your next project off the ground.


Search by sales agent – find international sales agents for films produced or co-produced in the top five European territories: UK, France, Germany, Spain and Italy.


Continually updated with only serious European projects, you have an interactive directory at your fingertips, saving you research time and money.


Interactive distributor database – get your next project seen. Check out global distributors by region to help secure the right distribution deal for you!


Film production stats on demand - search for projects in development, production or post production by status, genre, nationality and shooting year.


Know the names behind the scenes – get to know who’s been involved in what. Make connections with the people behind the latest films, track their previous projects and who they’ve worked with.


Who’s making what? Search production companies by country to see what film projects they’re currently involved in.


Discover the film industry insight Screen Base holds. Visit http://screenbase.screendaily.com today. ■ 18 Screen International at Filmart/HAF/HKIFF March 21, 2011 Search by sales agent – find Interactive distributor database Know the names behind the Films at the festivals


Our new online, interactive database provides key production and financing information for the top five European territories, making it easier to find funding, key creative partners and much more. Use the insider knowledge at Screen Base to help get your next project off the ground.


Films at the festivals – extensive details for films showcased at the industry’s biggest festivals and markets. Find out who and what is behind the latest completed films.


Locate project funding – find finance ideas for your work from companies who have supported similar projects.


Opening film Don’t Go Breaking My Heart


winners Nader And Simin — A Separation and The Turin Horse. Other highlights include a


masterclass by Jia Zhangke and the world premiere of Jia-produced documentary Yulu; retrospectives of Abbas Kiarostami and Hong Kong cultmeister Kuei Chih-hung, and sidebars focusing on Romanian and Vietnamese cinema and US indies. To celebrate the 20th


Locate project funding – find finance ideas for your work from companies who have supported similar projects.


anniversary of Fortissimo Films, HKIFF will present a retrospective of some of the sales and production company’s best-known titles. The festival has also


appointed Hong Kong actress Miriam Yeung as ambassador for this year’s edition.


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