The honors were evenly distributed at the 2024 Hong Kong – Asia Film Financing Forum awards with no film project winning more than two prizes.
Zhang Zhongchen’s work-in-progress “The Land is Our Navel” (China), that tracks a surreal journey beginning in a village, will be one of five projects invited to go to Cannes. It will be joined by Upamanyu Bhattacharya’s animation “Heirloom” (India), which examines the dark side of nostalgia while celebrating Indian textiles; and Oliver Chan Siu-kuen’s “Montages of a Modern Motherhood” (Hong Kong), where a troubled new mother seeks an immediate solution to her problems.
“The Land is Our Navel” also won the AimMedia Award, while “Heirloom” and “Montages of a Modern Motherhood” won the market’s Work In Progress award for non-Hong Kong and Hong Kong project respectively.
In all, awards worth $223,000 were handed out on Wednesday at the market. In total of 47 projects were selected out of 460 submissions and the market arranged 1,150 meetings for them. “This is a record-breaking number,” Dr. Wilfred Wong, chair of the Hong Kong Film Development Council, said during his opening remarks at the awards ceremony.
HAF 2023 AWARDS LIST
HCG Award
Presented by CAA China
Two cash awards of $20,000 value each. CAA China may board the winning projects later by entering into script development agreements.
“Call of Lobster” (Taiwan) Dir. Yin Chen-Hao
“Dying Fire” (China) Dir. Gao Linyang
Network of Asian Fantastic Films (NAFF) Award
Presented by Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival
One in-kind award, selected project to present at NAFF 2024
“The Vampire of Sheung Shui” (Hong Kong) Dir. Shreyom Ghosh
Udine Focus Asia Award
Presented by Udine Far East Film Festival
One in-kind award, selected project to present at Focus Asia 2024
“White Flowers and Fruits” (Japan) Dir. Sakamoto Yukari.
La Fonte X INBETWEEN Award
Presented by La Fonte and INBETWEEN
One in-kind award of $20,000
“Staring at Your Back” (Korea, Japan, Taiwan) Dir. Jang Kun-Jae,
Project D Award
Presented by DZOFILM in collaboration with RED, Aputure, OCHW, and PPB
One in-kind award of $25,700
“The Sichuan Culinary Chronicles: In Four Chapters” (China, Hong Kong) Qiu Jiongjiong
White Light Post-Production Award
Presented by White Light Studio
Two in-kind awards valued at $15,000 each
“Nagi Notes” (Japan, France) Dir. Fukada Koji
“To Kill a Mongolian Horse” (China) Dir. Jiang Xiaoxuan.
HAF Goes to Cannes Program
Presented by HAF and Marché du Film, Festival de Cannes
Five in-kind awards providing market screening opportunities at Cannes in 2024.
“Admission” (China) Dir. Quentin Hsu Kun-Hua
“Heirloom” (India) Dir. Upamanyu Bhattacharya
“Intimate Encounter” (Taiwan) Dir. Chang Tso-Chi
“The Land is Our Navel” (China) Dir. Zhang Zhongchen
“Montages of a Modern Motherhood” (Hong Kong) Dir. Oliver Chan Siu-kuen
Taipei Film Commission Award
Presented by Taipei Culture Foundation – Taipei Film Commission
Cash award of $3,800
“A Ghost in the Market” (Taiwan) Dir. Chin Chia-Hua
TAICCA Award
presented by Taiwan Creative Content Agency
Cash award of $10,000
“Encore” (U.S., Hong Kong) Dir. Stefanos Tai
AimMedia Award
Presented by AimMedia Pictures
Cash award of $12,800
“The Land is Our Navel” (China) Dir. Zhang Zhongchen
CCG Grand Award
Presented by Chinachem Group
Cash award of $25,700
“The Way We Talk” (Hong Kong) Dir. Adam Wong Sau-ping
IDP Award
Presented by Create Hong Kong, Hong Kong Film Development Fund and HAF
Two cash awards of $12,800 each, one Hong Kong and one non Hong Kong project
“Blonde” (Japan) Dir. Sakashita Yuichiro
“The Excreman – On the Road” (Hong Kong) Dir. Brian Tse
WIP Award
Presented by Create Hong Kong, Hong Kong Film Development Fund and HAF
Two cash awards of $12,800 each, one Hong Kong and one non Hong Kong project
“Heirloom” (India) Dir. Upamanyu Bhattacharya
“Montages of a Modern Motherhood” (Hong Kong) Dir. Oliver Chan Siu-kuen
