‘Call Of Lobster’, ‘Dying Fire’ Win First HCG Awards As HKIFF Industry Unveils Project Market Winners

Yin Chen-Hao’s Call Of Lobster and Gao Linyang’s Dying Fire were presented with the inaugural HCG Awards, a joint initiative of HKIFF Industry and CAA China, as the Hong Kong projects market wrapped with 21 cash and in-kind prizes worth more than US$223,000.

The objective of HCG [HKIFF Industry – CAA China Genre Initiative], according to CAA China CEO Mary Gu, is to provide the next generation of filmmakers in the region with a network of support to help them launch their careers, both locally and in the international marketplace.

Two animation projects were the big winners in the Hong Kong Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF). The Excreman – On The Road, from McDull creator and veteran animator Brian Tse, won the IDP Award for Hong Kong projects, while Indian animation feature Heirloom, from Upamanyu Bhattacharyya, won the WIP Award as a non-Hong Kong project.

“Both projects demonstrate lively reimaginings of local tales and a strong connection to their domestic social landscapes,” said HKIFF Industry in a statement.

Heirloom was also selected for the HAF Goes to Cannes program, along with four other projects (see full list of winners below).

HKIFF Industry Project Market winners:

HCG Award: Call Of Lobster by Yin Chen-Hao (mentorship from Li Fei)

 

HCG Award: Dying Fire by Gao Linyang (mentorship from Zhou Yunhai)

 

IDP Award for a Hong Kong project: The Excreman – On The Road (Hong Kong) by Brian Tse

 

IDP Award for a non-Hong Kong project: Blonde (Japan) by Sakashita Yuichiro

 

WIP Award for a Hong Kong project: Montages Of A Modern Motherhood (Hong Kong) by Oliver Chan Siu-kuen

 

WIP Award for a non-Hong Kong project: Heirloom (India) by Upamanyu Bhattacharyya

 

CCG Grand Award: The Way We Talk (Hong Kong) by Adam Wong Sau-ping

 

AimMedia Award: The Land Is Our Navel (Mainland China) by Zhang Zhongchen

 

TAICCA Award: Encore (US, Hong Kong) by Stefanos Tai

 

Taipei Film Commission Award: A Ghost In The Market (Taiwan) by Chin Chia-Hua

 

Project D Award: The Sichuan Culinary Chronicles: In Four Chapters (Mainland China, Hong Kong) by Qiu Jiongjiong

 

La Fonte X INBETWEEN Award: Staring At Your Back (South Korea, Japan, Taiwan) by Jang Kun-Jae

 

White Light Post Post-Production Award for an IDP project: Nagi Notes (Japan, France) by Fukada Koji

 

White Light Post Post-Production Award for a WIP project: To Kill A Mongolian Horse (Mainland China) by Jiang Xiaoxuan

 

Network of Asian Fantastic Films (NAFF) Award: The Vampire Of Sheung Shui (Hong Kong) by Shreyom Ghosh

 

Udine Focus Asia Award: White Flowers And Fruits (Japan) by Sakamoto Yukari

 

HAF Goes to Cannes Program:

Admission (Mainland China) by Quentin Hsu Kun-Hua

Heirloom (India) by Upamanyu Bhattacharyya

Intimate Encounter (Taiwan) by Chang Tso-Chi

The Land Is Our Navel (Mainland China) by Zhang Zhongchen

Montages Of A Modern Motherhood (Hong Kong) by Oliver Chan Siu-kuen