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The winners of the 2017 Hong Kong Asia Film Financing Forum have been announced.

Tommy Tom Chung-sing’s Impossible Split was presented with the Haf Award for a Hong Kong project at the close of this year’s Hong Kong Asia Film Financing Forum (Haf, March 13-15).

NARAtive Film 2017-2018, to be directed by Iranian filmmaker Ida Panahandeh and produced by Japan’s Naomi Kawase, won the Haf Award for a non-Hong Kong project. Both awards come with a cash prize of $19,000 (Hk$150,000).

Impossible Split, produced by Hong Kong director Adam Wong (The Way We Dance), is based on the true story of Hong Kong bowling athlete Wu Siu-hong, who was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 30. Panahandeh’s project is a contemporary Shakespeare adaptation with a female character in a main role.

The iQiyi award, presented by the Beijing-based streaming platform, went to Yang Long’s The Patient, produced by Zhou...

The winners of the 2017 Hong Kong Asia Film Financing Forum have been announced.

Tommy Tom Chung-sing’s Impossible Split was presented with the Haf Award for a Hong Kong project at the close of this year’s Hong Kong Asia Film Financing Forum (Haf, March 13-15).

NARAtive Film 2017-2018, to be directed by Iranian filmmaker Ida Panahandeh and produced by Japan’s Naomi Kawase, won the Haf Award for a non-Hong Kong project. Both awards come with a cash prize of $19,000 (Hk$150,000).

Impossible Split, produced by Hong Kong director Adam Wong (The Way We Dance), is based on the true story of Hong Kong bowling athlete Wu Siu-hong, who was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 30. Panahandeh’s project is a contemporary Shakespeare adaptation with a female character in a main role.

The iQiyi award, presented by the Beijing-based streaming platform, went to Yang Long’s The Patient, produced by Zhou...

There is a thrilling selection of Chinese-language titles at Filmart this year. Liz Shackleton picks out some of the most promising.

With very few Hong Kong or mainland Chinese sellers making the journey to this year’s European Film Market in Berlin, Filmart offers a chance for buyers to catch up with the Chinese-language titles that will be rolled out in the region for the rest of the year.

After serving up the biggest film of the Chinese New Year holiday — Kung Fu Yoga, starring Jackie Chan and directed by Stanley Tong — China’s Sparkle Roll Media has launched a Hong Kong-based sales arm that is selling Ding Sheng’s reboot of the A Better Tomorrow series.

Other high-profile action titles new to market include Distribution Workshop’s Extraordinary Mission, from the creative teams behind the Infernal Affairs and Overheard series, and Huayi Brothers’ crime drama Explosion, starring Duan Yihong.

Previously announced...

Adaptation of Fujii Izuki’s novel stars Dong Zijian and Cherry Ngan.

Fox Networks Group (Fng) has acquired exclusive rights to At Café 6, an adaptation of a Taiwanese novel, and will give a theatrical release in Hong Kong and Southeast Asia.

Fng is partnering with Fox International in Hong Kong; Clover Films, mm2 Entertainment and Golden Village in Singapore; and Clover Films and mm2 Entertainment in Malaysia/Brunei to bring the film to theatres outside mainland China and Taiwan.

Following a theatrical release in July, the film will be broadcast exclusively on Fng’s pan-regional Star Chinese Movies (Scm).

An adaptation of Fujii Izuki’s best-selling novel, At Café 6 marks the author’s directing debut, credited with his real name Neal Wu.

The film stars Chinese rising star Dong Zijian (The Ark of Mr. Chow) and Hong Kong actress Cherry Ngan (The Way We Dance).

Wang Bing, Adam Wong, Pema Tseden and Lav Diaz (pictured) among directors with projects in line-up.Scoll down for full line-up

The 14th Hong Kong-Asia Film Financing Forum (Haf) (March 14-16) has revealed its full line-up of 31 projects, including new works from renowned filmmakers such as Wang Bing, Pema Tseden and Lav Diaz as well as from new talents.

Hong Kong is well-represented with five projects, including The Way We Dance director Adam Wong’s new project Trains In The Night; 2012 Hong Kong Film Awards best new director Jessey Tsang’s erotic feature The Lady Improper; and Dot 2 Dot director Amos Why’s adaptation of award-winning suspense novel Napping Kid.

Other Chinese-language projects from Taiwan and China include Taiwan actress Rene Liu’s directorial debut Lieutenant Yi, which will be produced by her regular collaborator Sylvia Chang; new director Huang Zi’s From Black And White To Shades Of Grey, produced by Monga...

One of the biggest events on Hong Kong's film festival calendar - the Hong Kong Asian Film Festival - has revealed its full line-up, which will open on 28 October with She Remembers, He Forgets, the new film from Adam Wong, who caused a splash two years ago with The Way We Dance. Also sharing opening duties this year is Jia Zhangke's Mountains May Depart. The festival will run until 22 November, closing out with the world premiere of Nick Cheung's second directorial effort, Keeper of Darkness.She Remembers, He Forgets is described as follows by the festival:Ten years into her marriage with Shing-Wah (Jan Lamb), Fung-Chi (Miriam Yeung) finds herself unhappy with her humdrum life both at work and at home. One day, a song...

[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...

Media Asia launched its new slate at Filmart yesterday, which includes Johnnie To’s heist movie Three and Adam Wong’s He Remembers, She Forgets, starring Miriam Yeung and Jan Lamb.

To’s heist drama Three stars Louis Koo, Vicki Zhao Wei and Wallace Chung in the story of doctor who finds herself in a crossfire between the police and gangsters.

To has also teamed with Yau Nai-hoi to produce Trivisa, directed by three up-and-coming filmmakers, about three notorious mainland gangsters who come together for their latest heist.

Wong’s new Media Asia project is nostalgic romantic drama He Remembers, She Forgets, produced by Teddy Robin and Svaille Chan.

Wong won best new director at last year’s Hong Kong Film Awards for his independently-produced street dance movie, The Way We Dance.

Media Asia’s 2015 slate also includes two romantic comedies: All You Need Is Love, starring Richie Jen and Shu Qi; and An Office And A Panderer...

Hong Kong—Ong Bak star Tony Jaa leads the cast in Spl II: A Time For Consequences. A prequel to the 2005 Donnie Yen-starrer Spl: Sha Po Lang, the $23 million action thriller was unveiled at a press conference on Friday. It's cast includes Louis Koo (Overheard 3), Wu Jing (Spl: Sha Po Lang), Simon Yam (The Midnight After), Zhang Jin (The Grandmaster), and Babyjohn Choi (The Way We Dance). Photos: Bruce Lee's Personal Belongings to Be Auctioned Off: Martial Arts Shield, Shin Guard Set and More The film will feature a fusion of Chinese and Thai martial arts. Co-produced

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Wong Kar Wai’s The Grandmaster nabbed 12 prizes at the Hong Kong Film Awards on Sunday night, including best picture, best director and best actress for Zhang Ziyi.

The Grandmaster also won best supporting actor for Zhang Jin, best action choreography for Yuen Woo-ping, best screenplay, best editing, best cinematography, best art director, best costume design, best music and best sound design.

However the film’s lead Tony Leung Chiu-wai lost out on the best actor award, which went to Nick Cheung for mixed martial arts-themed movie Unbeatable. Kara Hui picked up the best supporting actress award for Juno Mak’s horror film Rigor Mortis, which also won the award for best visual effects.

The other multiple award winner of the night was Adam Wong’s street dance movie, The Way We Dance, which scooped best new director, best new performer for Babyjohn Choi’s performance and best original film song.

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Wong Kar Wai’s The Grandmaster nabbed 12 prizes at the Hong Kong Film Awards on Sunday night, including best picture, best director and best actress for Zhang Ziyi.

The Grandmaster also won best supporting actor for Zhang Jin, best action choreography for Yuen Woo-ping, best screenplay, best editing, best cinematography, best art director, best costume design, best music and best sound design.

However the film’s lead Tony Leung Chiu-wai lost out on the best actor award, which went to Nick Cheung for mixed martial arts-themed movie Unbeatable. Kara Hui picked up the best supporting actress award for Juno Mak’s horror film Rigor Mortis, which also won the award for best visual effects.

The other multiple award winner of the night was Adam Wong’s street dance movie, The Way We Dance, which scooped best new director, best new performer for Babyjohn Choi’s performance and best original film song.

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Wong Kar Wai’s The Grandmaster nabbed 12 prizes at the Hong Kong Film Awards on Sunday night, including best picture, best director and best actress for Zhang Ziyi.

The Grandmaster also won best supporting actor for Zhang Jin, best action choreography for Yuen Woo-ping, best screenplay, best editing, best cinematography, best art director, best costume design, best music and best sound design.

However the film’s lead Tony Leung Chiu-wai lost out on the best actor award, which went to Nick Cheung for mixed martial arts-themed movie Unbeatable. Kara Hui picked up the best supporting actress award for Juno Mak’s horror film Rigor Mortis, which also won the award for best visual effects.

The other multiple award winner of the night was Adam Wong’s street dance movie, The Way We Dance, which scooped best new director, best new performer for Babyjohn Choi’s performance and best original film song.

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The 33rd Hong Kong Film Awards have just announced their winners and unsurprisingly it was Wong Kar Wai's The Grandmaster that dominated the evening, scooping a phenomenal twelve awards, including Best Film, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Screenplay and Best Action Choreography. Adam Wong's dance comedy The Way We Dance took 3 awards, including Best Song, Best New Actor for Babyjohn and Best New Director, while Juno Mak's Rigor Mortis also performed well, winning Best Supporting Actress for Kara Hui and Best Visual Effects.Nick Cheung managed to beat out Tony Leung to take the Best Actor prize for his role in Dante Lam's Unbeatable, while Zhao Wei's directorial debut So Young won the Best Cross-Strait Chinese Language Film, but otherwise it was...

[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...

Hong Kong’s Media Asia has unveiled a slate of new productions at Filmart, including Lawrence Cheng’s romantic comedy Break Up 100 and a big screen adaptation of hit TV series Triumph In The Sky.

Co-directed by Wilson Yip and Matt Chow, Triumph In The Sky is produced by Tommy Leung and will star Julian Cheung, Francis Ng and Louis Koo.

Starring Ekin Cheng and Chrissie Chau, Break Up 100 tells the story of couple who try to run a business together after breaking up and reuniting 99 times.

The slate also includes Johnnie To’s Don’t Go Breaking My Heart 2, starring Koo, Miriam Yeung and Vic Chou, along with romantic drama She Remembers, He Forgets, directed by Adam Wong (The Way We Dance) and produced by Teddy Robin and Saville Chan.

In addition, Leon Lai is making his directorial debut for Media Asia with action drama Wine War, in which he also stars. Lai is also...

Hong Kong – The Grandmaster took home top honors at the Hong Kong Film Directors' Guild Awards. Director Wong Kar-wai's martial arts epic was awarded best film, best director, best actor for Tony Leung Chiu-wai, and best actress for Zhang Ziyi. Story: Inside the DGA Awards: Alfonso Cuaron Wins, Steven Soderbergh Gets a Surprise The best newcomer award went to Babyjohn Choi for his portrayal of a tai chi master in The Way We Dance, and the best new director was awarded for the director of The Way We Dance, Adam Wong. Story: Roundtable: 6 Top Directors on Rookie Mistakes,

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Wong Kar Wai’s The Grandmaster scooped the most nominations for this year’s Asian Film Awards with 11 nods, followed by Bong Joon Ho’s Snowpiercer with five.

Nominations for The Grandmaster included best film, best director, best actor (Tony Leung Chiu-wai), best actress (Zhang Ziyi), best screenwriter and best cinemtographer (see full list below). Snowpiercer’s nominations included best film, best director, best screenwriter, best production designer and best costume designer.

Also nominated for best film are Chinese director Ning Hao’s No Man’s Land, which is screening at the Berlin film festival, The Great Passage from Japan, The Lunchbox from India and Taiwan’s Stray Dogs.

Rounding out the best director category are Stray Dogs director Tsai Ming-liang, Singapore’s Anthony Chen for Ilo Ilo and Japan’s Hirokazu Kore-eda for Like Father, Like Son.

Multiple nominees also included No Man’s Land, Stray Dogs, Cold Eyes and Rigor Mortis which each picked up four...

The 33rd Hong Kong Film Awards is expected to be a hell of a show with some great films going head to head. Leading the way with nominations is The Grand Master with 14, followed by Unbeatable (Dante Lam).

There were complaints last year, that the show didn’t live up to expectations, mainly due to the fact the movie Cold Wars, won nearly every award. Best actor award see the likes of these guys going head to head, Tony Leung (The Grandmaster), Louis Koo (The White Storm) and also Anthony Wong (Ip Man: The Final Fight).

Take a look at the list and comment who you think will win. The winners will be announced on April 13.

Best Film:

- The Grandmaster

- Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons

- The Way We Dance

- The White Storm

- Unbeatable

Best Director:

- Wong Kar Wai (The Grandmaster)

- Johnnie To...

Ziyi Zhang: Best Actress at the 2013 Golden Horse Awards (photo: Ziyi Zhang in ‘The Grandmaster’) (See previous post: “Golden Horse Awards: Singaporean Movie ‘Ilo Ilo’ Is Surprising Best Picture Choice.”) Although Anthony Chen’s Ilo Ilo took home the top award at the 50th Golden Horse Awards, Wong Kar Wai’s Berlin Film Festival opening gala film The Grandmaster was this year’s big winner: six awards, including the Best Actress trophy for Ziyi Zhang. That marked Zhang’s first victory, after three previous nominations: Best Actress for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon in 2000 and for 2046 in 2004; Best Supporting Actress for Forever Enthralled in 2009. "It was a very long and suffering journey making The Grandmaster, but now I’m very happy," Zhang said in her acceptance speech. In Wong’s Hong Kong-Chinese martial arts drama she plays the daughter of fighting master, who, so as to restore her family’s honor,...