News and Events

Academy of Film hosts premiere preview of “Weeds on Fire”

The Academy of Film (AF) of the School of Communication of Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) hosted today (24 August) a special university premiere preview of “Weeds on Fire” with 400 participants in attendance.

“Weeds on Fire” is the debut feature film of Mr Chan Chi-fat, a graduate of the Academy of Film, and its script was co-written with another graduate, Mr Wong Chi-yeung. To express gratitude for AF’s support, the film production crew organised the special university premiere preview and sharing event. Special guests included Mr Chan Chi-fat, Mr Wong Chi-yeung; producer, veteran director and cinematographer, Mr O Sing-pui and actors, Mr Liu Kai-chi, Mr Lam Yiu-sing and Mr Wu Tsz-tung. Mr Chan Chi-fat said he hopes the event and his experience can encourage students and graduates to realise their dream in film production and sustain their interest and passion.

“Weeds on Fire” was inspired by a true story about Martins, Hong Kong’s first Chinese teenage baseball team which was set up in the 1980s, and the challenges it faced amid rapid changes in Hong Kong and its sporting world. This award-winning project was nominated by HKBU in 2013 for the inaugural “First Feature Film Initiative” supported by Create Hong Kong, which granted HK$2 million for the production of this commercial feature film.

Members of the production team of “Weeds on Fire” are young, and many of them are AF students and graduates. The Academy also provided the much-needed support, such as production equipment and facilities. The award-winning film was completed under a very tight budget, with the support from veteran industry practitioners, including veteran director, producer and writer, Mr Chan Hing-ka and Mr O Sing-pui. Mr Chan Chi-fat said that since “Weeds on Fire” was to a certain extent produced by HKBU, in his mind it is indirectly an HKBU film.

	The film production crew of “Weeds on Fire” hopes the event can encourage students to pursue their dream in the movie industry

	Mr Chan Chi-fat says that “Weeds on Fire” is indirectly an HKBU film