"The 5th Hong Kong Mobile Film Production Contest" Award Presentation Ceremony Nurturing Creativity & New Talent in Hong Kong

(Hong Kong, 20 February 2012) The 5th Mobile Film Production Contest Award Presentation Ceremony was held today as a highlight of the 5th Hong Kong Mobile Film Festival (HKMFF), jointly organized by Hong Kong Wireless Technology Industry Association (WTIA) and Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC), and sponsored by the CreateSmart Initiative of Create Hong Kong (CreateHK) of the HKSAR Government. The local nominee to the 2nd Hong Kong International Mobile Film Awards (HKIMFA) was also announced at the occasion.

The Hong Kong Mobile Film Production Contest drew enthusiastic response this year with over 150 entries. 15 entries were shortlisted to enter the final assessment by a panel comprising professionals. Based on the judging criteria including optimal use of a small screen, visual and audio quality, expression of the theme and originality, the judging panel selected the award-winning films (see full list attached).

Boundless creativity in convenient mobile operating platform

At the ceremony, Mr. To Cheung, Chairman of WTIA, noted that advancements in information technology have made video shootings, editing and sharing easier. He said, "The success of mobile film is the most important trend in the IT sector. It demonstrates the convergence of Social – Local – Mobile, which has become part of our lives, changed our habits, and enabled ordinary people to become influential."

"During the assessment, I was touched by 'Warm Dishes', a documentary produced by a group of secondary students.  It was about a restaurant in Shum Shui Po where the owner provides meals at reasonable price to the elderly there.  I was not only touched by the story but also surprised by the highly-matured techniques of this young production team. The story was so enlightening that I went to Sham Shui Po to meet the restaurant owner in person. It is heartening to discover that our next generation, through filming, becomes more sensitive to people and matters around them," he added.

CreateHK has sponsored HKMFF for the past two years. Mr. Jerry Liu, Head of CreateHK, said, "As the office dedicated to advocating, facilitating and promoting the economic development of Hong Kong’s creative industries, CreateHK is pleased to be the major sponsor of HKMFF again.  With its Hong Kong Mobile Film Production Contest being one of the major competitions in Hong Kong to recognize creativity, CreateHK is fully supportive of this event and hopes through this platform to discover more local film-making talents and help Hong Kong filming industry scale new heights."

Creative works with profound meaning

The entries this year are both versatile in themes and outstanding in production quality. Special features to note include:
 

• Using light-hearted and fresh approaches to feature family love - "2 or 3 Things About the Album", "The Sight of Father's Back"
• Documentaries with detailed research and post-production by students to describe Hong Kong - "Yau Ma Tei", “Warm Dishes"
• Youngsters born in the 80s funded their own production with simple shooting equipments and detailed computer graphics -  "Super Strength"
• Passionate amateur director- "My Shoes"

"2 or 3 Things About the Album" was the biggest winner of this year's competition, picking up three awards including "Best Animation", "Best Story", and "Grand Award". Using animation to describe her family love and childhood memories, director Ms. Mok Wan-Yee touched the audience with her own narration. "My Shoes", directed by first-time director, Mr. Lo Chi-Wai, won the "Best Drama" award. A member of the disciplined forces with little knowledge on film making, Mr Lo was able to overcome all the problems encountered and get the best out of his cast, making a film with a strong plot. The newly-created "Best Documentary" award went to "Yau Ma Tei".  Shot by a team of Post-80s youngsters, they interviewed all walks of life in Yau Ma Tei on their views and sentiment towards the district.  Their creative editing and special computer graphics symbolized the high creativity and energy of the Post-80s youngsters.

The Post-90s also showed the same level of promise. With only simple equipments at their disposal, they still managed to make mobile films of excellent quality with rigorous pre- and post-production work. Here, Chung Long-Man from HHCKLA Buddhist Leung Chik Wai College won the "Best Campus (Primary & Secondary)" award with “Warm dishes" after impressing the judging panel with its content production. Meanwhile, the "Best in Digital Creativity Award", sponsored by Convoy Financial Group, was won by Work It Out Dance Studio's "Work It Out Dance Studio Self-promotion Short Film".

Other guests at the presentation ceremony included Mr. Tony Lam, Director (Corporate Services) of HKPC; veteran movie director, screenplay writer and actor Mr Lee Lik-Chi; Mr. Clement Cheng, director of "Gallants", winner of the “Best Film” of the 30th Hong Kong Film Awards; independent film director Mr. Adam Wong; Mr. John Chan, Creative Director of Postgal Workshop; and video artist Ms. Jessey Tsang.

During the ceremony, the organizers also announced "2 or 3 Things About the Album" as the Hong Kong representative in the 2nd HKIMFA. It will compete with mobile films nominated by counterparts from the Mainland China, Taiwan, Canada, France, Australia, Korea, Singapore, Brazil, Spain and Greece for the grand prize. The award presentation ceremony will be held on 22 March 2012 during the Hong Kong International Film and TV Market (FILMART).

Launched in September 2011, the 5th HKMFF comprised the Mobile Film Production Contest, mobile film forum, workshops and seminars to enhance public awareness of mobile film as well as to promote the development of related industries.

To view the award-winning films and learn more about HKMFF and HKIMFA, please visit the official website www.mobilefilm.hk and www.hkimfa.com.
 

This press release is distributed by AQ Communications Ltd. on behalf of The 5th Hong Kong Mobile Film Festival organized by WTIA and HKPC. For media enquiry, please contact:

Cheryl Cheuk   Tel：(852) 3579 8349 / 6182 0667   Email：ccheuk@aqcomm.com
Mario So   Tel：(852) 3421 2086 / 5183 9855   Email：mso@aqcomm.com

The 5th Hong Kong Mobile Film Production Contest - Award List

Screenshots of "2 or 3 Things About the Album", the wining film of Grand Award, Best Animation and Best Story.

Mok Wan Yee, the producer of "2 or 3 Things About the Album"

Mok Wan Yee (Left) won the Grand Award which was presented by Mr. Jerry Liu, Head of CreateHK (right)

Screenshots of "My Shoes", the winning film of Best Drama (Non-Animation) and Best Acting Team

Screenshot of "Yau Ma Tei", the winner of Best Documentary

Screenshot of "SQUATTERTOWN", Best Editing

Screenshot of "Warm Dishes", the winner of Best Campus (Primary and Secondary) Award

Screenshot of "Grandfather's Clock", the winner of Most Popular Mobile Film Award

Screenshot of "Work It Out Dance Studio Self-promotion Short Film", the winner of The Best in Digital Creativity Award sponsored by Convoy Financial Group

All the winners, finalists and guests took photo together in the Mobile Film Production Contest Award Presentation Ceremony.