Hong Kong International Film Festival
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The Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF, Chinese: 香港國際電影節) is a platform for filmmakers, film professionals and filmgoers from all over the world to launch and experience new film work. There are seminars, conferences, exhibitions, and parties celebrating the festival community. The festival is committed to discovering talent, and it is also a major platform to launch films to the Greater China region and Asian market.
The 33rd HKIFF, in 2009, included a total of 518 screenings of 338 films from 50 countries and regions, at 11 theatres across Hong Kong.
Contents
History
Previously operated by Urban Council and Leisure and Cultural Services Department, from 1977 to 2001, and Hong Kong Arts Development Council, from 2002 to 2004, HKIFF was officially incorporated as an independent, charitable organisation – Hong Kong International Film Festival Society Limited - after completing its 28th edition. The Hong Kong Government has continued to subsidise the festival through venue provision and funding of up to HK$7 million.
New films are featured as gala premieres, with the directors and cast presenting on the red carpet, and inside the cinema, to greet the audience. The Festival draws over 300 global members of the press.
There are five categories of awards, decided by juries consisting of film industry professionals such as film critics, directors and film festival delegates:
- Asian Digital Competition
- Humanitarian Awards for Documentaries
- FIPRESCI Awards
- SIGNIS Awards
- The Fresh Wave Short Film Competition
About the organiser
The Hong Kong International Film Festival Society (HKIFFS) is a charitable, non-profit, non-government organisation dedicated to the discovery and promotion of creativity in the art and culture of film. The society holds year-round programmes that aim to strengthen global appreciation of Chinese film culture and to promote good films from around the world, enriching the cultural life of Hong Kong.
With a commitment to "the development of a vibrant film culture in Hong Kong and Asia", the society organises three annual flagship events in March and April: the Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF), the Hong Kong - Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF), and the Asian Film Awards (AFA).
Screening venues
- Hong Kong Cultural Centre
- Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre
- Hong Kong City Hall
- Hong Kong Film Archive
- Hong Kong Science Museum
- Hong Kong Space Museum
- Hong Kong Arts Centre
- UA Times Square
- UA Cityplaza
- UA Langham Place
- The Grand Cinema
HKIFF events
The HKIFF is also a lifestyle event where festival-goers can attend panel discussions, forums, seminars, exhibitions, live music performances, and parties celebrating the festival.
Chinese censorship
In 2002, a legitimate film in the HKIFF program was retracted because a banned film was shown alongside it. Filmmakers worried that being in the league of banned films might offend the authorities. But it was the country title of “China” printed in the programme notes that the Chinese Government had contested, not the film itself.
In China, a film that has not received documentation is unauthorized, and therefore does not officially exist. Labelling such a film as “from China” offends the Chinese Government.
When the HKIFF ran these films, the Chinese government would retract them. They would blame it on the improper procedures taken by HKIFF but say nothing of the film content. The HKIFF has found a way around this.
Unauthorised films can still be part of the HKIFF programme, thanks to creative classification. Since the 2003 incident, the HKIFF no longer classified Chinese language films by their countries of origin. They began to label mainland Chinese, Taiwanese and Singaporean films by their languages. It has had no trouble since.
