Say My Title, an upcoming China-Hong Kong romantic drama, received three prizes on the HKIFF Trade Mission Market awards, which additionally topped the winner of its inaugural animation showcase.
Marking the directorial debut characteristic 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 value $15,000; and a chance to attend the Cannes Marche to hunt additional help.
The story centres on a lady who impersonates an trade 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 challenge is famend cinematographer Lyu Yue, who received 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 received the Golden Leopard at Locarno in 1998.
Scroll down for full listing of winners
Some 24 awards value round $250,000 (HK$1.95m) have been handed out on the second HKIFF Trade Mission Market in Hong Kong at present (March 19). A complete of 48 titles have been thought of, comprising 25 in-development initiatives (IDP), 15 works-in-progress (WIP), six animation initiatives 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 characteristic My Life As McDull received finest movie at Annecy in 2003.
An extra animated winner was Li Jiajia’s Min, which scooped the AimMin Potential Award, additionally value $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.
Extra winners included Japanese drama Yellow, which is produced by Cannes Palme d’Or successful filmmaker Hirokazu Kore-eda (Shoplifters, Monster). The title, which received the White Gentle post-production prize for an in-development challenge, is the story of a person combating guilt after inflicting the loss of life of his finest good friend in a automobile accident. It’s directed by Miyoh Yamaura, who has labored with Kore-eda as an assistant director.
HKIFF Trade Workplace additionally revealed it has partnered with MetaMedia Group to launch the Asia Brief Movie Fund, which goals to “lend monetary and developmental help to excellent quick movie initiatives from filmmakers throughout Asia”.
Three or extra chosen initiatives 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 Could.
HKIFF Trade Mission Market Awards 2025 winners
IDP Award (HK): Waves Underneath 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
Pink Sea Fund Award (IDP): Besik. Homecoming (Taj-Kaz), dir. Iskandar Usmonov
Pink Sea Fund Award (WIP): Title And Hair (China), dir. Li Jing
Sky Animation Award: A Mighty Journey (Tai-HK-Malay), dir. Toe Yuen
Maxtimes Footage 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: Useless 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 Submit-Manufacturing Award: A Girl Builds (Japan-Tai-Sing), dir. Huang Ji and Otsuka Ryuji
White Gentle Submit-Manufacturing Award (IDP): Yellow (Japan), dir. Miyoh Yamaura
White Gentle Submit-Manufacturing Award (WIP): Say My Title (China-HK), dir. Liu Xing
Community of Asian Incredible 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