The 36^th HKIFF Announces Nine Winners in Five Competitions

3 April 2012 (Hong Kong) – The 36^th Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF) announced this year’s winning films for the SIGNIS Awards, FIPRESCI Prize, and the Firebird Awards for Short Film Competition, Documentary Competition and Young Cinema Competition. The announcement took place at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre. (Please refer to list of jurors) The winners of Documentary Competition Award and Young Cinema Competition will receive a camera kit sponsored by Nikon.

Co-organised with SIGNIS Hong Kong since 2004, the SIGNIS Awards recognise quality films that express social and humanitarian concerns as well as spiritual values. The SIGNIS Award this year went to Monsieur Lazhar by Philippe Falardeau. The jury’s commented that “Avoiding sentimentality and using subtle humour this sensitive gem speaks to the heart” The film shows how cinema can be a powerful tool to enhance sensational experience. Both I Wish and Declaration of War received Special Mention of this Award. (please refer to the award list).

The FIPRESCI Prize has been presented since the 23rd HKIFF with the aim to promote young talent and artistic excellence in Asian filmmaking.  The FIPRESCI prize was presented to The Mirror Never Lies by Kamila Andini. The Jury noted that s beemovie shows us a community's relationship with nature and the personal story of the search of a father that has disappeared. The impressive visual style combines the power of the ocean and the rites of the human beings, the every-day struggle of life and the coming-of-age-story of a young girl.” (Please refer to the award list).

Supported by the Jockey Club Cine Academy (JCCA), the Short Film Competition this year received 500 entries from Asia, Europe and the Americas. Twenty finalists were selected and shown during the festival. this year the Film Festival has added The Special Prize (Hong Kong) for the local film. The Jury Prize was presented to Everyone Says I Love You by Cecile Ducrocq. The new Special Prize (Hong Kong) was conferred to Acid by Lam Suk-ching. Lam’s work has been greatly recognized laying a foundation to local filmmakers and serving as a huge encouragement for them. The top award of Firebird Prize was made to Muybridge’s Strings by Yamamura Koji. Jury members were very moved by its poetic style and its original structure. (please refer to the award list).

The Documentary Competition Award is made to documentary filmmakers who address social issues.The Firebird Award was made to Jai Bhim Comradeby Anand Patwardhan. The Jury recognized that "Its subject is compelling but easy to ignore. The film is morally powerful and dignifies the people whose world it reveals. It is lyrical, a musical, a compilation film and a wonderful piece of journalism." The Jury Prize went to Back to the Square by Petr Lom. The Jury commented that this was "A moving and brave film about a truly relevant topic. The film was made in unstable circumstances yet has a smooth rhythm and is clear-sighted in showing us that the revolution in Egypt is far from over."(please refer to the award list).

The Young Cinema Competition aims to encourage young Asian filmmakers and to recognize their efforts. The Firebird Award for Young Cinema went to Song of Silence by Chen Zhuo. The jury commented that this was "A beautiful film with naturalistic acting and great cinematography. The jury looks forward to the director's future works as a dynamic new voice of Chinese cinema." The Jury Prize went to The End of Puberty by Kimura Shoko, which was highly praised for the director’s "creativity with a dynamic point-of-view and unique and effective way of expression, and the film is is a clever and original depiction of sex and sexual relationship." (please refer to the award list).

Screenings of the following award-winning films are still available at the 36^th HKIFF:

• Muybridge’s Strings - 4 April, 10:30am, Science Museum
• Everyone Says I Love You - 4 April, 12:15pm, Science Museum
• Jai Bhim Comrade – 4 April, 2:45pm, Hong Kong Space Museum
• Monsieur Lazhar - 8 April, 3:00pm, Science Museum

Details of these screenings can be found at www.hkiff.org.hk

List of Awards

List of Jurors

Young Cinema Competition
Anderson Le, USA
LEE Yoon-ki, South Korea
LAW Kar, Hong Kong

Documentary
Mark Cousins, United Kingdom
Zhu Rikun, China
CHAN Ning, Hong Kong

FIREBIRD AWARDS

Short Film Competition
Michelle Carey, Australia
Yamashita Koyo, Japan
O Sing-pui, Hong Kong

FIPRESCI
Helmut Merker, Germany
Philip Cheah, Singapore
Lau Yam, Hong Kong

SIGNIS
Karel Deburchgrave, Belgium
Sikares Sirakan, Thailand
Catherine Wong, Hong Kong

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

Through its year-round programmes, the mission of the Society is to strengthen global appreciation of Chinese film culture and to promote inspiring films from around the world, enriching the cultural life of Hong Kong.

Committed to the development of a vibrant film culture in Hong Kong and Asia, the Society presents three annual flagship events in March and April: The Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF), the Hong Kong-Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF) and the Asian Film Awards (AFA).

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 inspiring films all year round.

For media enquiries, please contact:
New Point Marketing Limited
Media General Enquiry              
Phone: +852 3589 3794     
Fax: +852 3589 3795
Email: hkiff@new-point.com

Download pdf  version