Say My Title, an upcoming China-Hong Kong romantic drama, gained three prizes on the HKIFF Business Challenge Market awards, which additionally topped the winner of its inaugural animation showcase.
Marking the directorial debut function of Liu Xing, Say My Title picked up the WIP award of $12,800 (HK$100,000); the White Gentle post-production prize, providing providers price $15,000; and a chance to attend the Cannes Marche to hunt additional assist.
The story centres on a woman who impersonates an alternate scholar to start out a relationship with a rich boy. Yoyo Tse, Jack Tan and Cai Jie have been forged in key roles. A producer on the mission is famend cinematographer Lyu Yue, who gained the technical grand prize at Cannes and acquired an Oscar nomination for his work on Zhang Yimou’s 1995 crime drama Shanghai Triad. He additionally directed Mr Zhao, which gained the Golden Leopard at Locarno in 1998.
Scroll down for full record of winners
Some 24 awards price round $250,000 (HK$1.95m) have been handed out on the second HKIFF Business Challenge Market in Hong Kong in the present day (March 19). A complete of 48 titles have been thought of, comprising 25 in-development tasks (IDP), 15 works-in-progress (WIP), six animation tasks and two from Jakarta Movie Week of Indonesia.
The primary animation showcase noticed Toe Yeun’s A Mighty Journey win the SkyFilm animation award together with a money prize of $12,800 (HK$100,000). The Taiwan-Hong Kong-Malaysia motion comedy follows the adventures of a grasshopper, spider and butterfly. It marks the most recent from Hong Kong director Toe, whose debut function My Life As McDull gained greatest movie at Annecy in 2003.
An extra animated winner was Li Jiajia’s Min, which scooped the AimMin Potential Award, additionally price $12,800 (HK$100,000). This drama, centred on a middle-aged girl who considers her life in an earthly marriage, is government produced by Liu Jian, director of Berlinale 2023 competitors title Artwork School 1994.
Further winners included Japanese drama Yellow, which is produced by Cannes Palme d’Or successful filmmaker Hirokazu Kore-eda (Shoplifters, Monster). The title, which gained the White Gentle post-production prize for an in-development mission, is the story of a person scuffling with guilt after inflicting the dying of his greatest pal in a automotive accident. It’s directed by Miyoh Yamaura, who has labored with Kore-eda as an assistant director.
HKIFF Business Workplace additionally revealed it has partnered with MetaMedia Group to launch the Asia Quick Movie Fund, which goals to “lend monetary and developmental assist to excellent quick movie tasks from filmmakers throughout Asia”.
Three or extra chosen tasks will obtain a money award of as much as $35,000 every, together with mentorship from established Asian filmmakers in script improvement, manufacturing and worldwide distribution. Additional particulars are anticipated in Might.
HKIFF Business Challenge Market Awards 2025 winners
IDP Award (HK): Waves Below The Sea, dir. Chan SiIeong
IDP Award (non-HK): Drive South Pray West (Thai), dirs. Panu Aree and Kong Rithdee
WIP Award (HK): Say My Title, dir. Liu Xing
WIP Award (non-HK): Her First Style (China), dir. Gong Yiwen
HAF x CNC Award: A Stranger At My Door (HK-China), dir. Zheng Lu Xinyuan
Crimson Sea Fund Award (IDP): Besik. Homecoming (Taj-Kaz), dir. Iskandar Usmonov
Crimson Sea Fund Award (WIP): Title And Hair (China), dir. Li Jing
Sky Animation Award: A Mighty Journey (Tai-HK-Malay), dir. Toe Yuen
Maxtimes Photos Award: Harmless Flesh (China), dir. Lin Yihan
AimMedia Potential Award: Min (China), dir. Li Jiajia
Taipei Movie Fee Award: Indigo Boy (Tai), dir. Invoice Chia
La Fonte Award: Lifeless Tide (Malay), dir. Kethsvin Chee
Aputure Award: A Stranger At My Door (HK-China), dir. Zheng Lu Xinyuan
HCG Award: Seoulers (S Kor-US), dir. Hee Younger Pyun and Jiajun ‘Oscar’ Zhang
Pica Pica Media Publish-Manufacturing Award: A Lady Builds (Japan-Tai-Sing), dir. Huang Ji and Otsuka Ryuji
White Gentle Publish-Manufacturing Award (IDP): Yellow (Japan), dir. Miyoh Yamaura
White Gentle Publish-Manufacturing Award (WIP): Say My Title (China-HK), dir. Liu Xing
Community of Asian Implausible Movies (NAFF) Award: 2181 Overture (China-Can), dir. Wang Kunlin
Udine Focus Asia Award: Seoulers (S Kor-US), dir. Hee Younger Pyun and Jiajun ‘Oscar’ Zhang
HAF Goes to Cannes Programme