HAF Picks 28 In-Development Projects and 15 Work-in-Progress Projects, Runs Online for The Third Yea

• Published date: 09 February 2022
• Publication title: Xinhua Finance Agency

HONG KONG SAR -Media OutReach- 9 February 2022-The Hong Kong - Asia Film Financing Forum has shortlisted 28 in-development projects for its 20supth supanniversary edition (HAF20), which will run online for the third consecutive year from 14 to 16 March in conjunction with the 26supthsup Hong Kong FILMART.The projects, selected from 222 submissions from 38 countries and regions, include eight from Hong Kong, 12 debut features, as well as projects from such renowned filmmakers and producers as HUANG Ji, Jun LI, MARIKO Tetsuya, Ida PANAHANDEH, LIM Lung Yin, TSANG Tsui-shan, Michael J.

WERNER, Fruit CHAN, Nonzee NIMIBUTR, YANG Chao, DING Yuin-shan, and Jane ZHENG."Unfortunately, we won't have the opportunity to celebrate our 20supthsup anniversary by hosting our usual in-person event due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and travel restrictions," HKIFF Industry Director Jacob WONG said.

"Nevertheless, based on experience gained from the last two years, we will strive to improve our online booking and meeting system to make it a breeze for all participants."Some of the selected HAF20's in-development projects (IDP) are as follows:Hong Kong spotlightHAF20 spotlights eight Hong Kong in-development projects, the most in recent years.

They include I Might Write About Us, a personal LGBTQ+ drama by Jun LI (Drifting, winner of Best Adapted Screenplay at Golden Horse Awards 2021); High Noon, a drama about a cop who unearths the brutal past behind a recent robbery, directed by award-winning film editor WONG Hoi and produced by Michael J. WERNER; and Smashing Frank, a dark comedy about four millennials who rob the rich, by Trevor CHOI, director of a local popular YouTube channel 16:9, with Fruit CHAN attached as producer.

New talent showcaseIn line with its continuing support for new talent, HAF20 presents 12 debut in-development projects, many by young filmmakers who have cut their teeth by making short films. Among them, DUONG Dieu Linh (A Trip To Heaven, winner at Locarno 2020), follows a middle-aged Vietnamese housewife who voodoos her husband back into love in Don't Cry, Butterfly; In Summer Breeze, HO Yuk-fai (Eternal Sunshine, winner of Best Director at Hong Kong's Fresh Wave 2020), creates a eulogy to Hong Kong's young generation through the bittersweet lives of three graduates; Moxie PENG (one of the six directors of "Disney Launchpad: Shorts Incubator" programme) tracks the bleak reality of a family of four in social drama Tender Is The Night, which Jane ZHENG of The Farewell fame produces.

Both WU Lang's Absence and ZHANG Yudi's The Midsummer's Voice are based on short films of the same name, which competed in Cannes and Palm Springs International ShortFest, respectively.Award-winning...