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Animation Steals Two Grand Awards at HKIFF 2024

The 2024 HKIFF Industry Project Market has concluded with successful networking events and animated films being the notable winners of grand prizes. By Ching Wai.

Hong Kong - This year’s Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF) Industry Project Market was the first of its kind. It constitutes the 22nd Hong Kong-Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF22) and the inaugural HKIFF Industry - CAA China Genre Initiative (HCG). The festival took place over a course of three days, and concluded on 13 March. 47 selected projects from more than 460 submissions representing 48 countries and regions were presented. Amongst the vast diversity of projects, 21 were rewarded cash and in-kind prizes worth over US$223 000. Additionally, a record number of over 1150 private business meetings took place at the festival. Filmmakers were able to interact and engage with industry professionals and potential investors.

Notably, two animations were amongst the projects that received grand prizes. The Excerman - On the Road by Brian Tse won the IDP Award for Hong Kong projects. Brian Tse is himself a McDull creator and veteran animator. Heirloom by Upamanyu Bhattacharyya is an Indian animation feature that won the WIP Award as a non-Hong Kong project, and was selected for the HAF Goes to Cannes Programme. Both animations depict reimaginings of local tales and have connections to their domestic social landscapes. The wins come as an indicator of the growing influence and appeal of animation in the film industry.

The HCG Awards are given to support the future generation of filmmakers in the region and help in launching their careers locally as well as internationally, as stated by Mary Gu, the CEO of CAA China. The first of its kind were awarded to two exceptional genre projects: Call of Lobster by Yin Chen-Hao and Dying Fire by Gao Linyang. The two films had narratives that captivate and strong dramatic elements, making them deserving of the award.

The HKIFF Industry Project Market’s combination of HAF and HCG has made it possible for a better and stronger platform for filmmakers to present their projects and form connections with industry players. This is according to Dr Wilfred Wong, the Chairman of the HKIFF Society. He further stated “[w]e are thrilled with the response from the film community, and the exceptional quality of this year’s projects fills me with hope and optimism for their future success.” Dr Wong also congratulated winners and participants, and acknowledged the generous support this year from sponsors like CAA China, Aim Media, Project D, La Fonte, and INBETWEEN.

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