Hong Kong, China – “Snow in Midsummer” emerged victorious as the best film for young cinema competition (Chinese-language) at the Hong Kong International Film Festival. The film delves into the 1969 massacre of Malaysian Chinese during political unrest following an election. Liang Ming clinched the Best Director award for “Carefree Days,” while Lyu Xingchen, the female lead in the film, was honored with the Best Actress award. The accolade for Best Actor went to Jason King for his performance in “A Journey in Spring.”
In the non-Chinese film category, “Sons” by Gustav Moeller was declared the winner of the Firebird Award. Meryam Joobeur secured the Best Director award for “Who Do I Belong To,” while Vangelis Mourikis was named Best Actor for his role in “Arcadia.” Minna Wuendrich’s outstanding performance in “Ivo” earned her the distinction of Best Actress. The jury also awarded a special mention to Nelson Carlo de los Santos Arias’ film “Pepe.”
During the documentary competition, the Firebird Award was unanimously presented to “Favoriten” by Austrian director Ruth Beckermann. Local filmmaker Wong Siu-pong clinched the jury prize for “Obedience.” Margherita Giusti received the Firebird Award in the short film category for “The Meatseller,” while the jury prize was awarded to Portuguese director Jorge Jacome’s “Shrooms.”
The HKIFF48, which showcased over 190 films from 62 countries and regions, will conclude after its 12-day run on Tuesday.
Udine, Italy – The Far East Film Festival in Udine, Italy, will kick off with the film “YOLO” on April 24. “YOLO” is the highest-grossing Chinese movie of the year, earning over $500 million at the box office during the Lunar New Year holidays. It was directed by Jia Ling, who also starred in the film. The movie, an adaptation of the Japanese film “100 Yen Love,” was acquired for international release by Sony Pictures.
Special Treat – Something Special, a leading Seoul-based international format agency, and AR Asia Productions, a production company based in Hong Kong, have been chosen by the Taiwan Creative Content Agency (TAICCA) to lead its LEAP Creative Lab project. The initiative aims to enhance the creativity of Taiwanese producers through immersive learning experiences and collaborative development opportunities. The year-long project will be jointly led by Something Special and AR Asia Productions, featuring activities throughout 2024.
A three-day master class program is scheduled to take place in Taipei from April 10-12, with participation from 50 producers and selected companies. Instructors from Korea will lead the sessions. Following the master class, a creative workshop will be held in the latter half of 2024. From the initial group of participants, eight standout companies will be chosen for intensive mentoring by Korean professionals to develop their intellectual property.