Say My Identify, an upcoming China-Hong Kong romantic drama, received three prizes on the HKIFF Business Mission Market awards, which additionally topped the winner of its inaugural animation showcase.
Marking the directorial debut characteristic of Liu Xing, Say My Identify picked up the WIP award of $12,800 (HK$100,000); the White Mild post-production prize, providing providers price $15,000; and a chance to attend the Cannes Marche to hunt additional help.
The story centres on a lady who impersonates an alternate scholar to begin a relationship with a rich boy. Yoyo Tse, Jack Tan and Cai Jie have been solid in key roles. A producer on the undertaking 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 record of winners
Some 24 awards price round $250,000 (HK$1.95m) have been handed out on the second HKIFF Business Mission Market in Hong Kong in the present day (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 newest 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 price $12,800 (HK$100,000). This drama, centred on a middle-aged girl who considers her life in a secular marriage, is government produced by Liu Jian, director of Berlinale 2023 competitors title Artwork Faculty 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 Mild post-production prize for an in-development undertaking, is the story of a person battling guilt after inflicting the demise of his finest buddy in a automobile 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 Brief Movie Fund, which goals to “lend monetary and developmental help to excellent brief 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 growth, manufacturing and worldwide distribution. Additional particulars are anticipated in Could.
HKIFF Business Mission Market Awards 2025 winners
IDP Award (HK): Waves Beneath 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 Identify, 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): Identify 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 Girl Builds (Japan-Tai-Sing), dir. Huang Ji and Otsuka Ryuji
White Mild Publish-Manufacturing Award (IDP): Yellow (Japan), dir. Miyoh Yamaura
White Mild Publish-Manufacturing Award (WIP): Say My Identify (China-HK), dir. Liu Xing
Community of Asian Unbelievable 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
