‘Say My Name,' ‘Her First Taste,' ‘A Stranger at My Door' and ‘Seoulers' Share Honors at Evenly Spread HAF Project Market Awards
The honors were evenly distributed at the 2025 Hong Kong – Asia Film Financing Forum awards with one film project winning three prizes and several others.
The event kicked off with the announcement of an Asian Short Film Fund.
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Liu Xing's Mainland China-Hong Kong drama-romance 'Say My Name' won three prizes. Picking up two prizes each were Gong Yiwen's Mainland China drama 'Her First Taste,' Zheng Lu Xinyuan's Hong Kong-Mainland China drama 'A Stranger at My Door' and Hee Young Pyun and Jiajun 'Oscar' Zhang's South Korea-U.S. drama-suspense film 'Seoulers.'
In his opening remarks, Dr. Wilfred Wong, chair of the Hong Kong Film Development Council, hailed the packed attendance at this year's market. 'The 2025 HKIFF industry project market, is an expanded version and a special edition that focused on teamwork and new ideas. Over the past three days, we have held over 1200 meetings connecting creators and field professionals across all genre, from action and science fiction to animation. This is an incredible achievement, because out of 400 submissions across 45 countries and regions, we have selected 48 projects that demonstrates bold creativity and skills,' Wong said.
'We're extremely excited this year to have introduced the new animation section. In response to the growing interest in this area. We are also proud that we have introduced and showcased two Indonesian films with the partnership of the Jakarta Film Week, highlighting the rising influence of Indonesian film in a cinematic landscape,' Wong added.
In all, 24 awards worth $250,000 were distributed.
Network of Asian Fantastic Films Award, which wins a trip to Bucheon for the festival. '2181 Overture' by Wang Kunlin.
Udine Focus Asia Award, where the winner gets invited to Udine to participate in Focus Asia.'Seoulers' by Hee Young Pyun and Jiajun 'Oscar' Zhang.
HKIFF China Genre Initiative Award carrying an in-kind prize worth HK$300,000 ($38,600) and mentorship. 'Seoulers.'
Aputure Award, carrying an inkind prize of HK$300,000 ($38,600. 'A Stranger at My Door' by Zheng Lu Xinyuan.
La Fonte Award, a prize including cash and in-kind worth HK$100,000 ($12,800). 'Dead Tide,' by Kethsvin Chee.
Taipei Film Commission Award, prize of HK$50,000 ($6,400). 'Indigo Boy,' by Bill Chia.
HAF x CNC Award, a new award with a cash prize of €10,000 ($10,900). 'A Stranger at My Door.'
Maxtimes Pictures Award, a new award with a cash prize of HK$100,000 ($12,800). 'Innocent Flesh' by Lin Yihan.
Under the HAF Goes to Cannes program, five work-in-progress projects are selected to attend the Cannes market. This year they are 'Her First Taste,' Reza Rehadian's 'Pangku,' 'Say My Name,' Tribeni Rai's 'Shape of Momo' and Sakamoto Yukari's 'White Flowers and Fruits.'
AimMedia Potential Award where the winner receives a cash award of HK$100,000 ($12,800). 'Min' by Li Jiajia.
Sky Animation Award where the winner receives a cash award of HK$100,000 ($12,800). 'A Mighty Adventure' by Toe Yuen.
Pica Pica Media Post-Production Award carrying an in-kind prize of $30,000. 'A Woman Builds' by Huang Ji and Otsuka Ryuji.
White Light Post-Production Award offering post-production services in Bangkok worth $15,000 each for an in-development project and a work-in-progress project. This year the award went to 'Yellow' by Yamaura Miyoh and 'Say My Name.'
Red Sea Fund Award, another new award, comes with a cash prize of $5000 for an in-development project and $10,000 for a work-in-progress project. This year it was won by 'Besik. Homecoming' by Iskandar Usmonov and 'Name and Hair' by Li Jing.
IDP Awards for one Hong Kong and one non-Hong Kong project with cash prizes of HK$100,000 ($12,800) each. 'Drive South Pray West by Penu Aree and Kong Rithdee and 'Waves Under the Sea' byu Chan Sileong.
WIP Awards for one Hong Kong and one non-Hong Kong project with cash prizes of HK$100,000 ($12,800) each. 'Her First Taste' and 'Say My Name.'
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