1st Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Film Production Investment and Trade Fair Concludes Successfully
The Cultural Affairs Bureau of Macao, the Hong Kong Film Development Council and the Guangdong Provincial Press and Publication Bureau recently co-organised for the first time the 2014 Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Film Production Investment and Trade Fair (hereinafter “the Fair”)on 24 and 25 May 2014 in the Cotai Strip Convention and Exhibition Center at The Venetian Macao–Resort–Hotel. Filmmakers and investors from the three regions gathered in Macao to improve mutual communication and seek cooperation opportunities.
The two-day Fair attracted 30 film proposals and over 30 investors from the three regions; the event included an opening ceremony, as well as networking meals, a seminar and “producer-to-investor meetings” a major activity of the Fair. Chan Peng Fai, Chief of the Department for the Promotion of Cultural and Creative Industries of the Cultural Affairs Bureau referred in the opening ceremony that he hoped the investors and producers of the three regions could turn together a new page in the interregional cinematographic cooperation, and continuously promote the film industry of the three regions. The Hong Kong representative, Fung Wing, Assistant Head of Create Hong Kong, believes the new generation of Hong Kong filmmakers grew up in creative ambience, accumulating extensive commercial film production experience which he believes would be helpful in the collaboration between the three regions. Zheng Dawei, Secretary-general of the Guangdong Motion Picture Industry Association, also suggested continuing to organise the event. Guests attending the Fair’s opening ceremony included the member of the Cultural Industries Fund administrative committee, Chan Iat Hong, the Secretary-general of the Committee of Cultural Industries, Wong Keng Chao and member Kong Mei Fan, as well as the president of the Macau Association of Audio-Visual “CUT”, Albert Chu Iao Ian.
Organisers from the three regions each submitted ten film proposals to the event, which were presented by the producers to the investors, striving for venture capital and opportunities for collaboration. In addition, the organiser initiated the “Best Film Proposal Award” voted by participating investors, following interviews to the producers. Eventually, this prize was awarded to the proposal Kung Fu Goddess by Macao producer Chan Nga Lei.
Since Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao are geographically close to each other and share the same language, the Cantonese film market has its own importance. The seminar “The Trends of the Cantonese Film Market” was the last programme in the Fair, presented by experienced Chinese producer Zhang Quanxin, Hong Kong director Teddy Robin and producer Chu Chen-On, who respectively shared experiences on [film] production and investment.
Teddy Robin referred that filmmaking is always about expressing human emotions; thus, it should be done by “starting from the heart” in order to move audiences. Chu Chen-On said that [screenwriters] should not think about the size of a production when writing a script while Zhang Quanxin believes that professional marketing companies can help small-budget films do their promotional work. Taking Macao as an example, it can bring works together for promotion and release as a whole, which helps cost-recovery. The seminar was conducted in a convivial atmosphere.
Mr. Ung Vai Meng presented the award and expressed in his speech that Macao’s World Heritage sites are natural filming sceneries, and suggested filmmakers make good use of them to develop the resources of the Macao film industry. He thanked all the guests from the three regions and expects the Fair will do even better next year.
The Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Film Production Investment and Trade Fair provided a high quality, convenient communication platform for investors and producers of the three regions, promoting pairing services and negotiation, in order to establish a three-way investment channel for the film industry. It also focused on small and medium-budget films, supporting new producers. In this year’s event, Macao producers found many co-operative opportunities.
Captions:
- Group photo of all participants in the Fair.
- Experienced Filmmakers Seminar: (from the left) Producer Chu Chen-On, Director Teddy Robin, Director Zhang Quanxin.
- Mr. Ung Vai Meng presents the “Best Film Proposal Award” to Chan Nga Lei.
