＊Latest information in YELLOW is updated on 25 March 2024.
The Industry Screening is a pilot programme which includes competition and non-competition sessions. It showcases various types of independent and pioneering film projects (before premiere) from Asia exclusively for the industry insiders. It allows filmmakers to strive for industry support and resources for production, distribution and more. The Asian New Director Grand Award is NOW recruiting first cuts of fiction film projects (before premiere). The award is designed in particular for new directors from the Asian regions. Shortlisted film projects will compete for a cash prize of HK$100,000 (1 winner). The Industry Screening is for invited industry delegates and guests ONLY, including programmers who focus on selecting Asian titles for major international film festivals. It will not be considered as a premiere or public screening.
Eye Catcher Global 2024 has a new surprise!
We are excited to announce the additional Asian New Director Special Jury Award to our pilot programme Industry Screening Competition Session! What’s more, we are now recruiting first cuts of NON-FICTION film projects (before premiere) too! The deadline for application and first cut submission will be extended to 26 April 2024 (Fri) HKT 12:00 n.n.
All Asian new directors are welcome! Diversified and innovative film language in your projects is highly encouraged!
Chinese Version 中文版Important Dates
Extended Application Deadline: 26 April 2024 (Fri) 12:00 n.n. (GMT+8:00 Hong Kong Time)
First Cut Submission Deadline (Online Screener Acceptable): 26 April 2024 (Fri) 12:00 n.n. (GMT+8:00 Hong Kong Time)
Result Announcement: Early May 2024
Industry Screening: 20 – 22 June 2024 (Thur – Sun)
2024 Shortlist Film Projects
- Dear Daughter
Genre: Non-Fiction
Director: Jo Cheng Oi Yue
Producer: Ruby Yang
- Heat Room
Genre: Non-Fiction
Director: Chan Hau Chun
Producer: Peter Yam Yin Cheung
Co-Director: Chui Chi Yin
- POCO A POCO
Genre: Fiction
Director: Wang Peng Wei
- Reverb
Genre: Fiction
Director: Zhong Kaifeng
- The River that Holds Our Hands
Genre: Fiction
Director: Chen Jianhang
Producers: Lin Ziyan, Chen Baiqi
- To Kill A Mongolian Horse
Genre: Fiction
Director: Jiang Xiaoxuan
Producer: Mo Zhulin
Executive Producer: Tan Chui Mui
Jury Members
(In alphabetical order of English surnames)
Chairperson
- Julien Rejl (France)
Rejl has joined as the Artistic Director of the Directors’ Fortnight since June 2022. Prior to this appointment, he was in charge of distribution, acquisitions and international sales at Capricci from 2010 to 2020. He has worked with filmmakers such as Abel Ferrara, Hong Sangsoo, Albert Serra, Wang Bing, Tsai Ming-Liang, Philippe Garrel, Monte Hellman, Corneliu Porumboiu, Jean-Charles Hue, and has distributed the first films of various new directors. He has also orchestrated the theatrical release of restored masterpieces by Jean-Luc Godard, Kenji Mizoguchi, Jean-Marie Straub and Danièle Huillet, Ingmar Bergman, Maurice Pialat, David Lynch and David Cronenberg.
Rejl also serves as a critic for Sofilm, and was the programmer and artistic director of the festival created by the cinema magazine between 2015 and 2019.
- Dr. Janet Barış (Turkey)
Based in Istanbul, Janet Barış is a film critic and an Associate Professor at the Department of Radio, Television and Cinema of Altınbaş University, Faculty of Fine Art and Design. She obtained her Ph.D. degree in 2013 with a thesis on “Contemporary Turkish Cinema and Melancholy”. An avid scholar on contemporary Turkish and world cinemas, Barış is the author of Class Aspects in New Turkish Cinema, published in 2021. Her articles on films and critic reviews have also been widely published on various platforms. She has been a member of SİYAD (Turkish Film Critics Association) since 2008 and FIPRESCI (The International Federation of Film Critics) since 2010. A well-experienced FIPRESCI jury member at numerous international film festivals, she served as a committee member on the EFA (European Film Academy) European Discovery – Prix FIPRESCI board between 2021 and 2023.
- Kiki Fung (Australia | Hong Kong)
Programme Consultant for Hong Kong International Film Festival and former Head Programmer for Australia’s Brisbane International Film Festival and Brisbane Asia Pacific Film Festival. Kiki has guest-curated for the Queensland Art Gallery/Gallery of Modern Art, Brisbane Festival, Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, and Hong Kong’s Film Programmes Office. She is also on the nomination committees of the Asian Film Awards and the Asia Pacific Screen Awards, and a member of the Hong Kong Film Critics Society. Her recent essays were published in Wong Ain Ling’s The Cinema of Wong Kar-wai (in Chinese), HKIFF Society’s Naruse Mikio, 110th Anniversary (Chinese) and the Asian Film Archive’s website (in English).
Format
- First Cut Screening:
Screening of first cut will be arranged for each shortlisted film project. The Asian New Director Competition will be scored based on the First Cut Screening ONLY. - Post-Screening Q&A:
Film units will each partake in a 20-minute Q&A session (in person or online) with industry delegates. Please note that jury members will NOT participate in this Q&A session. The Post-Screening Q&A session will NOT be scored. This session will be conducted in English. There is NO simultaneous interpretation service for this session.
Awards
- Asian New Director Grand Award【1 Winner】
– HK$100,000 (Approx. US$12,800)
– Opens to Shortlisted Fiction Film Projects to Compete Only - Asian New Director Special Jury Award【1 Winner】
– HK$20,000 (Approx. US$2,600)
– Opens to Shortlisted Fiction and Non-Fiction Film Projects
Application Details on Asian New Director Competition
【Application Closed】
1. The director of the film project must be a national or permanent resident of an Asian country or region.
2. The director of the film project must have reached the age of 18 at the time of application.
3. Film project must be the director’s 1st or 2nd feature-length film (60 minutes or above).
4. The film project must be a fiction or non-fiction film.
5. There is no restriction on theme or way of expression. Diversified, innovative and independent film projects are encouraged.
6. The film project must not premiere before. First cut must be available.
7. The estimated length of the film project must be 60 minutes or above.
8. If the first cut exceeds 120 minutes, an excerpt within 120 minutes is required for the Industry Screening.
9. Shortlisted film projects must submit the first cut for the Industry Screening aligned with the following specifications and format (Shortlisted applicants will receive an email for the submission method):
a) Length: 60 – 120 minutes;
b) English subtitles is required;
c) Format:
– Video Codec: ProRes 422 in MOV / H.264 in MP4
– Video Resolution: HD 1080p / 2K / 4K
– Frame Rate: 24fps / 25fps
– Audio: Preferably 2.0 / 5.1 at 24 bit in PCM Codec
10. Shortlisted film projects are required to include the Eye Catcher logo at the ending credits of their finished works.
11. Applicants must ensure that the submitted film projects do NOT infringe upon the rights and copyrights of any third party, and do NOT violate any relevant laws of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The organiser reserves the right to reject any film projects that are deemed inappropriate for the selection process.
・The application fee is HK$500 per film project. Payment proof is required in the application form.
・Application fees are non-refundable.
・Applicants who pay by wire transfer or PayPal, the application fee is HK$550. Bank charges / 6% PayPal transaction rate, and exchange rate differences are included.
・Applicants who pay by Alipay or WeChat Pay, the application fee is RMB500. Exchange rate differences are included.
・Applicants who were selected for the Eye Catcher programmes before (Creativity Camp / Incubation Programme / International Pitching Forum) can enjoy a 20% discount on the application fee (HK$400 after discount).
Payment Methods
Please choose one of the following payment methods. When payment is settled, the payment proof must be uploaded to the corresponding section of the Online Application Form to complete the application.
1. Bank Transfer / ATM Transfer / Online Transfer / Wire Transfer
Bank: HSBC
Account Name:
Renaissance Foundation Limited
Account No.: 848 280608 838
Bank Address:
1 Queen’s Road Central, Hong Kong
Bank Code: 004 (for Local Transfer)
SWIFT: HSBCHKHHHKH (Wire Transfer)
2. Faster Payment System (FPS)
ID 104508999
3. PayMe
4. PayPal
5. Alipay
Alipay Account: [email protected]
Name: Ms. Chen
6. WeChat Pay
Required Materials
・First Cut of the Film Project (Online Screener Acceptable)
・Logline (English: up to 35 words)
・Synopsis (English: up to 180 words)
・Director’s Statement (English: up to 180 words)
・Director’s Identity Document Copy (Identity Card / Passport)
・Key Creative Member(s)’ (director / producer / screenwriter) Biography (English: up to 60 words each; up to 3 members)
・Key Creative Member(s)’ (director / producer / screenwriter) Filmography (With preview links and passwords)
・Treatment (No word limit)
・Production Plan (No word limit)
・Budget Plan (Submit in PDF format)
・Application Fee
Optional Materials
・Full Script (Fiction Film Project) or Full Scene Outline (Non-Fiction Film Project)
・Other Members’ Biography (English: up to 60 words each)
・Other Members’ Filmography (With preview links and passwords)
・Film Unit / Production Company Profile (English: up to 60 words)
・Others (Submit in PDF format)
Remarks
- One application form is for one project application only.
- Please follow all the requirements on language and word limit when filling or uploading application materials.
- Applications missing any required materials will not be processed.
- No submitted materials will be returned. Please save a copy if necessary.
- Personal data, film project information and materials submitted will be treated as confidential and will be used by Eye Catcher staff, their affiliates or designated personnel only.
- Due to the limited quota, shortlisted projects will be selected according to the applications. The organiser reserves the right of change and final decision.
- The organiser will notify the shortlisted applicants through email.
- If there are any changes in programme details and/or schedule of the Industry Screening, please refer to the latest announcement from the organiser.
- The Renaissance Foundation reserves the right of final decision and interpretation in case of any dispute.
- For enquiries on application or filling the form, please email to [email protected] .
Presented by：
Eye Catcher Global｜Renaissance Foundation