Hong Kong-CAA China Genre Film Initiative Unveils Projects for First Edition
Six projects have been announced as participating in the inaugural edition of the HKIFF Industry – CAA China Genre Initiative, a project incubator in Hong Kong for Chinese-language genre films.
The HCG platform will run March 11-13, 2024, alongside the 22nd Hong Kong – Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF) and the Hong Kong International Film & TV Market (FilMart), Asia’s largest film and TV rights market.
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From the six, two winning projects will each receive a cash prize of $20,000 for development funding. The winning projects will benefit from bespoke guidance from script mentors and CAA China may engage in script development agreements with the selected projects.
CAA China is a venture involving Hollywood talent agency Creative Artists Agency (CAA), and China’s CMC Capital Partners.
“Call of Lobster,” directed by Yin Chen-Hao and produced by Cheng Wei-Hao and Jin Pai-Lunn (Taiwan box office hit “Man in Love”), is a comedy-drama about a lobster farmer’s overseas journey to share his unique farming techniques.
“Dying Fire” is a suspenseful comedy-drama directed by Gao Linyang (winner in Rotterdam with “To Love Again”) and produced by Guan Hu (“The Eight Hundred”) about a miner and an accountant who plan to retrieve their stolen money by setting up a fake bank they intend to rob.
“Hyperinflation,” directed by Yan Bing (“160 Years Old”) and produced by Li Xiaoyuan and Shan Zuolong (short film Palme d’Or winner “The Water Murmurs”), is a gripping drama that centers around an archaeologist who struggles with the financial debts left behind by her missing husband while simultaneously unravelling the mystery surrounding an ancient female corpse.
“Countdown to the End,” by Wang Hao is an action-packed suspense drama that follows a shopping mall security guard who engages in a thrilling cat-and-mouse game with a mysterious caller.
“Reunion Diaries” is directed by first-time feature director Rowena Loh and produced by Jean Yeo (“Last Madame: Sisters of the Night” series) and Taiwanese actor James Wen. A Lunar New Year rom-com, it traverses New York, Singapore, Taipei, and Hong Kong, showcasing love’s highs and lows.
“Scriptures and Poetry” by director Du Junlin and producer Li Xiaoyuan is a comedy that revolves around an elderly film director and screenwriter who together take a journey hoping to find inspiration for a romance movie.
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