The Hong Kong International Film Festival was founded by the Urban Council and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department. The first edition of the festival was held in 1977. It focused on international cinema. In 1978, the program of the festival expanded to include a retrospective of the 1950s Cantonese films. The festival was officially recognized as an international film industry event in the 1980s.
The Urban Council and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department were the main organizers of the film festival from 1977 to 2001. The next three editions were organized by the Hong Kong Arts Development Council. After completing its 28th edition, HKIFF was officially incorporated as a charitable, non-profit and non-governmental organization, the Hong Kong International Film Festival Society. Nevertheless, the festival still receives support from the Government of Hong Kong which provides venues and covers some of the costs.
HKIFF is a major platform for filmmakers and other industry professionals where they can showcase their works to the public as well as exchange creative ideas and network. The festival aims to discover and promote creativity in the art and culture of film. Committed to discovering new talent, HKIFF screens hundreds of films from across the world, focusing on showcasing Asian talent. It showcases about 250 films each year, of which most are world, international or Asian premieres.
The Hong Kong International Film Festival presents several awards. They are awarded by a reputable jury consisting of renowned industry professionals such as filmmakers, film critics, film producers, etc. These awards include Best Asian Film, Best Documentary Film, Best Short Film, FIPRESCI Award (presented by the International Federation of Film Critics), and SIGNIS Award (presented by the World Catholic Association for Communication).
Along with competitive and non-competitive screenings, the program of the festival includes panel discussions, talks, forums, seminars, workshops, exhibitions, live music performances, parties, and other events and activities.
Photo: lanternfilms.com.hk
