Last year's winning short films have already made their mark on the international film scene, and the 2025 camp is poised for a surge in excitement—masterclasses and one-on-one mentoring are available, and eight selected films will each receive a US$38,000 production grant.
Following the success of the inaugural event in 2024, the Academy of Asian Film Awards (AFAA) has officially announced the upcoming International Film Camp (IFC) 2025, to be held in Macau from September 10th to 16th. This year's event saw enthusiastic registration and outstanding performance from numerous creators. After a rigorous selection process, two additional spots were added, bringing the total number of participants to 18. On the final day, the 18 selected directors will present their open short film projects to a professional jury. Eight films will receive production grants of approximately US$38,000 (HK$300,000) each.
Dr. Wilfred Wong, Chairman of the Asian Film Awards Academy, said, "We established the International Filmmaking Camp to nurture young Asian filmmakers and further promote and introduce Asian cinema. In addition to the annual Asian Film Awards, the Academy has been actively organizing screenings, discussions, and exchanges at film festivals around the world to promote the development of Asian cinema."
Roger Garcia, Director of the International Filmmaking Camp, noted, "We are delighted that the directors participating in this inaugural cohort have already received international recognition. Works by Hong Kong directors Li Zeheng and To Chun-him have screened at the Udine Far East Film Festival in Italy. Mongolian director Lkhagvadulam Purev-Ochir's "A South Facing Window" won awards at the Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland and was selected for the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF50). Furthermore, Chinese director Song Dongxu's "Ride Your Horse" was shortlisted for the FIRST Youth Film Festival last month. We hope that this year's diverse lineup will further showcase the talent of Asian short filmmakers, from Hong Kong, Macau, China, Central Asia, India, and Southeast Asia."
Ms. Josie Lin, Executive Director of the Asian Film Awards Academy Lin added, "The Academy is deeply grateful to all supporting organizations and sponsors for joining us in nurturing the next generation of Asian filmmakers. We are also grateful for the participation of many mentors this year, including Golden Horse and Cannes Award-winning director Chen Zheyi from Singapore, and Chinese filmmaker Chen Daming, who brought practical experience to the participants. Special thanks to the three masterclass instructors: renowned Hong Kong directors Mabel Cheung and Stanley Kwan, and Cannes Award-winning director Brillante Mendoza from the Philippines. Their insights and rich experience will serve as an inspiration to the younger generation."
This year's Creative Camp is themed "My Best Friend," allowing participants to conceive and develop their short film projects. The Camp will feature masterclasses, workshops, and one-on-one mentorship covering scriptwriting, budgeting, production process, and more. This year's Chief Instructor is renowned Hong Kong filmmaker Chong Cheng. The International Film Camp is organised by the Asian Film Awards Academy, with guidance from the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao Special Administrative Region Government, and sponsored by the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Council (CCIDAHK), the Film Development Fund (FDF), Sands China Ltd. and Shaw Brothers Studios.
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