Editor

The 40th Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF) will be held from 21 March to 4 April 2016 and the 14th Hong Kong - Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF) will be held from 14 to 16 March 2016.  The organiser, the Hong Kong International Film Festival Society (HKIFFS) announces that media accreditation will be open for application online at http://society.hkiff.org.hk/en/press_accreditation_media.php from 25 January 2016.  The deadline for media accreditation application for the HKIFF40 and the 14th HAF is 4 March.  Journalists worldwide are invited to apply to attend Asia’s premier film events.

Screening over 280 titles from all over the world every year, the annual HKIFF is recognised as one of the most reputable platforms for filmmakers, film professionals and filmgoers from all over the world.

The HKIFF press pass is given to accredited media and film reviewers to attend non sold-out screenings during the festival, and to watch DVDs of selected films in the HKIFF programme at the Hospitality Office & Media Centre located at 4/F, Administration Building, Hong Kong Cultural Centre, open from 21 March 10am to 4 April 7pm.

Journalists who only wish to attend the HKIFF Grand Opening, premieres and other events do not need to apply for media accreditation. Instead contacts should be sent to HKIFFmedia@new-point.com, to be included in the HKIFF mailing and invitation list.

Widely recognised as Asia’s leading film-financing platform, HAF brings Asian filmmakers with upcoming projects to Hong Kong to explore co-production opportunities with top financiers, producers, investors, distributors and buyers.  Attracting over 1,000 filmmakers and funders from at least 35 countries and regions, 25 – 30 projects are selected annually to participate in the three-day event.  The HAF media badge is given to accredited media and the trade press in particular to access the fairground of HAF and its concurrent event, the Hong Kong International Film & TV Market (FILMART), both of which will take place at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The deadline for media accreditation application for the  HKIFF40 and the 14th HAF is 4 March 2016.  Applications with complete information and all required supporting documents will be processed for around two weeks from the date of submission.  HKIFF and HAF applications will go under separate review, and separate emails will be sent on or before 20 March and 11 March respectively, to inform applicants of the result.

The Hong Kong International Film Festival
The Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF) is one of Asia’s most reputable platforms for filmmakers, film professionals and filmgoers from all over the world to launch new works and experience outstanding films.

Screening over 280 titles from more than 50 countries in over 10 major cultural venues across the territory, the Festival is Hong Kong’s largest cultural event that reaches an audience of over 600,000.

Committed to discovering new talent, the Festival premieres the breadth of Chinese cinema and showcases Asian talents.  As a lifestyle event, festival-goers can enjoy world-class films, attend seminars hosted by leading filmmakers from around the world, visit film exhibitions, join celebration parties, and more.

The Festival draws extensive media coverage from over 500 local and international press members and continues to grow in importance as one of the premier platforms to launch films in Asia.  The HKIFF40 will be held from 21 March 2016 to 4 April 2016.

 Hong Kong - Asia Film Financing Forum
The Hong Kong - Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF) is widely recognized as an established film financing platform in Asia.  The HAF brings Asian filmmakers with upcoming film projects to Hong Kong for co-production ventures with top film financiers, producers, bankers, distributors and buyers.   Attracting more than 1,000 filmmakers and financiers from at least 35 countries and regions, around 25 to 30 projects are selected annually to participate in the three-day event.

HAF has partnered with international organisations to provide a range of opportunities to participants.  Partners include iQIYI (China), Fox International Productions (Greater China) (US), Cinemart (the Netherlands), Asian Project Market (South Korea), Independent Film Project (US), Golden Horse Film Project Promotion (Taiwan), New Cinema Network (Italy) and others. Cash and in-kind awards to the value of around US$150,000 are made with support from Create Hong Kong and Film Development Fund among others.

Past participants include China's JIA Jiangke, JIANG Wen, LU Chuan and NING Hao; Hong Kong's Peter CHAN, Stanley KWAN, Ann HUI, Fruit CHAN and PANG Ho-cheung; Taiwan's TSAI Ming-Liang, WEI Te-Sheng, CHUNG Mong-Hong and Leon DAI; Japan's KORE-EDA Hirokazu, KUROSAWA Kiyoshi, KAWASE Naomi and IWAI Shunji; Philippines’ Adolfo ALIX Jr., Jun Robles LANA, Brillante MENDOZA; South Korea's PARK Chan-wook, KIM Jee-woon, BONG Joon-ho and IM Sang-soo; as well as Thailand's Apichatpong WEERASETHAKUL, Ekachai UEKRONGTHAM, Nonzee NIMIBUTR and Pen-ek RATANARUANG.

Recent successes include South Korean box office hit KUNDO: The Age of Rampant, KAWASE Naomi’s Cannes film festival competition entry Still the Water, Jun Robles LANA’s Barber’s Tales, and 39th HKIFF Closing Film with superstar Aaron KWOK, Port of Call by Philip YUNG.

The Hong Kong International Film Festival Society (HKIFFS)
The Hong Kong International Film Festival Society Limited (HKIFFS) is a charitable, non-profit and non-governmental organisation dedicated to the discovery and promotion of creativity in the art and culture of film.

The Society is committed to making world cinema accessible and affordable to the public. It organizes the annual flagship Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF) and the Hong Kong - Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF) in March and April.  Another annual highlight is the Summer International Film Festival (Summer IFF) held every August.  Besides, the HKIFF Cine Fan Programme was launched in April 2013 with the aim to enrich and deepen the experience of Hong Kong moviegoers, the monthly programme features a variety of curate contemporary, retrospective and thematic showcases.

Through its annual programmes, the Society promotes international appreciation of Asian, Hong Kong and Chinese film culture; introduces world cinema to Hong Kong audiences; and continues to underline Hong Kong’s key position in the international film community.
Passionately believing in the power of films to unite cultures and generations, the HKIFFS is devoted to giving thousands of film lovers around the region direct access to the world’s most inspired films all year round.