Accomplishments

Academy of Film faculty contests new director award
Over a hundred awards scooped by film faculty and students at International film events

Over a hundred awards scooped by film faculty and students at International film events

Stoma, a new film by Academy of Film (AF) Lecturer Mr Kit Hung, was shortlisted for a Firebird Award in the Young Cinema Competition (Chinese Language) category of the 44th Hong Kong International Film Festival. The film was also selected to be showcased in the prestigious Gala Premiere section of the Festival. Based on the late cultural icon Julian Lee’s fight with cancer, the film follows an emotionally harrowing journey endured by a gay photographer following his diagnosis with peritoneal cancer.

Mr Ying Liang, Senior Lecturer of AF, was named Artist of the Year (Film) at the 14th Hong Kong Arts Development Awards earlier this year for his achievements in film. Alumna Ms Oliver Chan, director and screenwriter of the film Still Human, also won the Award for Young Artist (Film) at the same Awards. Another AF alumnus and a renowned composer in Hong Kong, Dr Mui Kwong-chiu, was also named Artist of the Year (Music).

The outstanding performance of AF’s faculty, students and alumni has won the recognition of professional judges around the world. Since 2018, they have received over 100 awards or honours from more than 20 international and local film festivals or awards. Alumnus Mr Felix Chong won seven awards at the 38th Hong Kong Film Awards for his featured film, Project Gutenberg, including Best Film, Best Director and Best Screenplay, etc. Other film festivals and awards were the BFI London Film Festival, UK; Udine Far East Film Festival, Italy; Locarno Festival, Switzerland; the Asian Film Awards, Osaka Asian Film Festival, Japan; Golden Horse Awards, Taiwan; Fresh Wave International Short Film Festival, Hong Kong; and the Hong Kong Independent Film Festival.

Two alumni were also selected as the joint winners of the Higher Education Institution Group of the 6th First Feature Film Initiative (FFFI) this year, which is an unprecedented result in the history of AF. Each of them will receive HK$5 million in funding from the Film Development Fund to take forward their winning film proposals and produce their first commercial feature films. Miss Yip Yuk-ying’s winning film proposal was entitled The Wonder. The other winning film proposal was Gamer Girls, which was written and directed by Miss Sophie Yang. So far a total of five AF alumni have won prizes in the Higher Education Institution Group of the FFFI, the highest number among higher education institutions. The other three alumni are Mr Steve Chan who won the inaugural FFFI with Weeds on Fire; Ms Oliver Chan won the 3rd FFFI with Still Human; and Miss Norris Wong who won the 4th FFFI with her film My Prince Edward.

Professor Eva Man, Director of AF, said: “We are deeply proud of and encouraged by the achievements of our faculty, students and alumni. Each recognised piece contains our faculty’s passion for teaching, our students and production team’s concerted efforts, and their determination in reaching out to the audience through visual storytelling, all of which drives AF to continue to promote quality film education.”

Please click here to learn more about the achievements of AF students and alumni over the years.

	Academy of Film Lecturer Mr Kit Hung

	(from left, front row) President Roland Chin, President of HKBU; Professor Eva Man; Miss Norris Wong, Dr Clement Chen, Chairman of the HKBU Council and Court attend the premiere gala of the movie My Prince Edward.

	Academy of Film Alumna Ms Oliver Chan

	Academy of Film Alumnus Felix Chong (left) directing his movie Project Gutenberg.